A 19-year-old man has said at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that Garda Donal Corcoran was the man who hit him in an assault he described as "fast, bloody and brutal".
Mr Oisín Breen, who was 17 at the time of the Reclaim the Streets demonstration on May Day 2002, said he was hit by other gardaí on the same occasion.
Garda Corcoran, of Mountjoy Garda station, described by Insp Majella Ryan as a community garda with excellent communication and people skills, is also accused of assaulting two other demonstrators on the same occasion.
He has pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to Mr Oisín Breen, Butterfield Park, Rathfarnham, Ms Katie Crean, New Cabra Road, Dublin, and Mr Brian Hayden, Knockmore Grove, Tallaght, on May 6th, 2002.
Insp Ryan, of Fitzgibbon Street Garda station, said Garda Corcoran was selected as a community garda due to his ability to interact with residents and his excellent people skills.
Insp Ryan said Garda Corcoran was also a victim support liaison officer and had initiated a support group for asylum-seekers.
As the ethnic liaison officer, Garda Corcoran was the first person to bring a group of asylum-seekers to Templemore to visit the Garda training centre.
Mr Breen said he saw Garda Corcoran running towards him with his baton raised before he moved into a group of people. He was then hit on his back, shoulders, arms and head. "I saw him raise the baton and come towards me," he said.
In video footage, Mr Breen identified himself holding his head, and Garda Corcoran. He agreed there were other gardaí around him when he was struck. They had also hit him, he said.
Asked how he could remember Garda Corcoran hit him on the head, he replied: "Garda Corcoran hit the first blow. That is why I remember."
The trial continues.