A Dublin garda has appeared at a special sitting of the district court in Galway on two charges of assault against a security man and woman.
Garda Stephen Moore from Castle Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin 3, has denied the charges.
The court heard how Garda Stephen Moore - who is based in Dublin's Pearse Street Garda Station - was in Karma nightclub off Eyre Square celebrating his Christmas party with a group of colleagues.
Giving evidence, security man Aidan Shortall said he approached Garda Moore on a number of occasions and asked him to stop lifting people up in the air or else leave the dance floor.
He said he later sought assistance to remove Garda Moore and he and another security man took him outside in an arm lock.
Aidan Shortall told the court that Garda Moore managed to break free and punch him in the face.
Giving evidence, security woman Andrea Flood said Garda Moore was making his way back into the club as she was on the way out whereupon he punched her twice in the mouth.
Prosecuting state solicitor Willie Kennedy said the scene on the night resembled a rugby scrum.
Gardaí were called and arrested Garda Moore.
Later security man Aidan Shortall said he did not want to press charges when he heard Mr Moore was a garda.
In court today, Garda Stephen Moore categorically denied he assaulted anyone. He claimed that it was he who had been assaulted, he said that the security men had tried to inflict pain on him.
He said it was his belief that he had been unlawfully arrested by a sergeant from Galway gardaí.
The case continues tomorrow before Judge Mary Fahy.
