Three Shell to Sea protesters lose 'garda brutality' case
Three Mayo men have failed to persuade a High Court jury they were unlawfully assaulted by gardaí at a Shell to Sea protest.
The jury dismissed the case brought by Ballina farmer Patrick Coyle and could not agree on the claims made by fishermen Patrick and Martin O'Donnell.
There were claims of garda brutality during a protest outside the Shell oil refinery at Bellanaboy in January 2007.
Patrick Coyle alleged that he was punched in the face and struck on the back of the head.
Brothers Patrick and Martin O'Donnell claimed that when they came to his assistance they were also assaulted by members of An Garda Síochána without any provocation.
The allegations were denied in this action for damages against the garda authorities.
The jury spent around three and a half hours deciding whether the men had been unlawfully assaulted.
They could not agree when it came to the O'Donnell's claims, but in Patrick Coyle's case, they found against him.
