Three Mayo men have failed to persuade a High Court jury they were unlawfully assaulted by gardai at a Shell to Sea protest.

The jury dismissed the case brought by Ballina farmer Patrick Coyle and couldn't agree on the claims made by fishermen Patrick and Martin O'Donnell.

There were claims of garda brutality during a protest outside the Shell oil refinery at Bellanaboy in January 2007.

Patrick Coyle was allegedly punched in the face and struck on the back of the head.

Brothers Patrick and Martin O'Donnell claimed when they came to his assistance they were also assaulted by members of An Garda Siochana without any provocation.

The allegations were denied in this action for damages against the garda authorities.

The jury spent around three and a half hours deciding whether the men had been unlawfully assaulted.

They couldn't agree when it came to the O'Donnell's claims but in Patrick Coyle's case the answer was no.