A young Dublin man who claims he was beaten by two gardai has told a court the whole ordeal was "like a nightmare".

Gardai John Mulcahy and Brian O'Connor deny kicking Leon Sutcliffe (21) during an arrest in Blanchardstown in Dublin just over three years ago.

Mr. Sutcliffe was hanging out with friends at Fortlawn Park in Blanchardstown in the early hours of November 13th 2010 when a garda patrol car pulled up.

During cross-examination today he told the court he "panicked" and made a run for it. He said he was chased down on foot by two gardai but gave up just before one of them caught up with him.

After mistakenly putting his hands behind his head instead of his back as instructed he claims he was kicked in the ribs.

He alleges he was then handcuffed and kicked in the face and body, leaving him with a damaged kidney.

During an investigation by the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), Garda John Mulcahy and Garda Brian O'Connor of Blanchardstown garda station denied beating him.

They both said he was resisting arrest. From the witness box today, Mr. Sutcliffe, who was 18 at the time of the alleged assault, said he has never been so badly treated in all his life.

The trial continues tomorrow.