A fisherman charged with assault on a Garda sergeant during a protest at the Corrib gas terminal at Bellanaboy, Co Mayo, denied he went to the protest to cause trouble.
Pat O'Donnell, of Porturlin Shore, Ballina, was giving evidence on the second day of a special sitting of Belmullet District Court.
Mr O'Donnell and his son, Jonathon (21), of the same address, and Enda Carey, of Porturlin, all deny assaulting Sgt Donal Glennon, who sustained a fractured thumb, and with obstructing gardaí on October 12th. Judge Mary Devins warned the defence and the prosecution that she would not allow a political debate in the court.
Mr O'Donnell said up to 150 protesters and 100 gardaí were at the scene, and the protesters had blocked both sides of the road. There was a lot of pushing and shoving when the gardaí began to move the protesters from one side of the road, and he claimed he was pushed to the ground.
He denied Garda allegations that he formed a scrum formation and pushed his son and Mr Carey into Sgt Glennon, and that is how they ended up in a drain.
He claimed as "totally untrue" allegations from Supt William Keaveney that he went to the protest to cause trouble.
Jonathon O'Donnell said he went to the protest with Mr Carey, and denied going there to cause trouble. Mr Carey said he was not a regular protester and only went there for the "craic". He also denied going to cause trouble and pushing Sgt Glennon into the drain.
Judge Devins said she would indicate on June 12th at Belmullet District Court when she would give her judgment.