Gardaí were ordered to put their batons away by a Garda inspector when they started using them on Reclaim the Streets protesters, a court heard today.
Inspector Brendan Connolly of Pearse Street Garda Station was giving evidence at the trial of Garda Donal Corcoran.
Garda Corcoran is accused of striking three protesters with his baton during the march on May 6th, 2002.
Insp Connolly told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today the atmosphere in the early part of demonstration was good humoured and jovial. However, when he arrived on Dame Street at about 6.00 p.m. he noted the demonstrators in the front line of the march appeared to be aggressive.
"I perceived a loss of control by the organisers of the demonstration and the more troublesome people were more prominent." He said that at this stage some protesters were throwing cans and coins at gardaí and spitting on them.
He noted gardaí had taken out their batons and he felt it necessary to order them to withdraw their batons and move away from the crowd.
Detective Inspector Colm Featherstone, the senior investigator in the case, told the court a baton should only be aimed at the arms and legs, and the head should not be struck to avoid causing serious injury.
He read from a Garda code of regulations, detailing the 13 circumstances under which a baton should be used. He said batons should only be used in self defence or when a garda feels threatened or overpowered.
Batons may also be used to disperse a crowd but only when no other methods have proved successful and under the direction of the garda in charge.
The trial continues before Judge Yvonne Murphy and a jury of eight women and four men.