Assault trial of two gardaí hears ordeal was a 'nightmare'
A young Dublin man who claims he was beaten by two Gardai has told a court the whole ordeal was "like a nightmare".
Gardaí John Mulcahy and Brian O'Connor deny kicking 21-year-old Leon Sutcliffe during an arrest in Blanchardstown just over three years ago.
Mr Sutcliffe was spending time with friends at Fortlawn Park in Blanchardstown in the early hours of November 13, 2010, when a Garda patrol car pulled up.
During cross examination today, he told the court he "panicked" and made a run for it.
He said he was chased down on foot by two Gardaí but gave up just before one of them caught up with him.
After mistakenly putting his hands behind his head instead of his back as instructed, he claims he was kicked in the ribs.
He alleges he was then handcuffed and kicked in the face and body, leaving him with a damaged kidney.
During a GSOC investigation, Garda John Mulcahy and Garda Brian O'Connor of Blanchardstown Garda Station denied beating him.
They both said he was resisting arrest.
From the witness box today, Mr. Sutcliffe, who was 18 at the time of the alleged assault, said he has never been so badly treated in all his life.
The trial continues tomorrow.
