Sean Lucey on trial over assault on RTÉ cameraman

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Garda Sean Lucey was on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court over an alleged assault on RTÉ cameraman Colm Hand and damage to a camera. The proceedings were reported on 11 December 2019.

Lucey denied assaulting Mr Hand. He pleaded not guilty to damaging a camera at Cathedral Street on 6 February 2016. The report said the incident occurred while Mr Hand and a colleague were working at a demonstration and counter-rally involving the far-right group Pegida and anti-racism groups.

The report said Mr Hand’s camera was struck and Lucey then hit him in the groin. Prosecuting counsel Fiona McGowan said footage would show Mr Hand retreating when Lucey stepped out of the Garda line and struck him. She rejected the suggestion that gardaí may have thought Mr Hand was part of the protest group.

Defence counsel James Dwyer argued that Lucey used lawful force after Mr Hand failed to comply with an instruction to move back. He said Mr Hand moved a foot and pivoted to face gardaí after his camera was struck. Dwyer also argued that there was insufficient evidence to establish whether the camera was damaged in the incident or earlier; he said it was not examined until weeks afterwards.

Judge Melanie Greally was due to continue addressing the jury on the law before deliberations began.