'Bite them Buster': gardai attacked by man with Pit bull, trial hears

A man is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of assaulting two gardai at Sallynoggin Road on 16 October 2016. The defendant, aged 40 and from Longford Villas, Sallynoggin, denies the charges and has also pleaded not guilty to possession of a claw-hammer and knuckleduster. Garda Garvan Allen told the jury that he observed the accused emerge from a house holding a pit bull terrier in one hand and a claw-hammer in the other. The prosecution alleges that during the attempted arrest, the defendant repeatedly shouted instructions to the dog to attack gardai. The defence maintains no dog was present and that the defendant was merely recording the gardai's conduct on his phone and torch. The garda testified that a violent struggle ensued during which he struck the defendant with his baton, whilst pepper spray was deployed. A knuckleduster was subsequently found in the defendant's pocket. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.