A man who filmed an anti-globalisation protest outside the Burlington Hotel in Dublin denied obstructing a garda trying to arrest a protester who had struck the officer with a stick.
An Irish Rail signal engineer, Mr Rowan Dempsey (26), a member of a web-based collective "Indymedia" which records protests around the world, is pleading not guilty to three charges of breach of the peace, obstruction and unlawful possession of a card-type Swiss army knife.
Dublin District Court heard that Mr Dempsey, of Gardiner Place, Dublin, was arrested during the protest on October 10th last when part of a 100-strong anti-globalisation protest tried to rush the front door of the Burlington where a conference on public-private partnership was being held.
One protester with a stick, which had been used to hold a placard, struck Det Garda Kevin Stratford, causing a slight cut to his forehead.
The protester ran back into the crowd, and when Det Garda Stratford tried to go after him, Mr Dempsey blocked his way and pushed him along with other people who were in the front line of the protest.
Det Garda Stratford said he made at least three attempts to get past Mr Dempsey, but the crowd had turned very violent and some were throwing placards and sticks. Gardaí then drew their batons and, as they moved forward, the crowd scattered.
Mr Dempsey said he did not push or block the gardaí. The court heard the protest was broken up after gardaí, who had earlier been pelted with paint and flour, warned the crowd around the door that if they did not move they would be removed by force.
Mr Dempsey said when the gardaí took out their batons and starting hitting people in the crowd a cry went up: "This is being videoed". The gardaí looked towards him and he ran away.
"I knew myself to be a target, by which I mean I recorded possible instances of police brutality, and it would be in the interests of gardaí to take that from me so it could not be used against them."
Det Garda Stratford ran after him, caught him and confiscated the camcorder when he arrested him. The court heard the camcorder and a copy of the 35 minutes of material on it was returned to him some days later.
The court heard the tape includes interviews with the Socialist TD, Mr Joe Higgins, and a trade union official which were done before the violence started.
The tape is to be played when the case resumes on May 27th.