Garda acquitted of assaulting two teens with baton during Covid lockdown

Judge said Sergeant John Long was ‘perfectly entitled to strike the two boys in the manner he did’

Sgt John Long was cleared of assault

April 05 2023 02:30 AM

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A garda sergeant has been acquitted of assaulting two teenage boys with his baton as he dealt with a rampage by a mob of drunken youths on Halloween night during Covid lockdown.

The crowd had been stealing and burning garden gnomes and wheelie bins. They had also been throwing missiles at patrol cars when Sgt John Long struck two 15-year-olds with his baton, a court heard.