Anti-nuclear protesters who were beaten by police, capsicum sprayed and locked in a shipping container have been awarded more than $700,000 in damages from the South Australian government.

In a judgment in the South Australian Supreme Court today, Justice Timothy Anderson found the treatment of the 10 people, during a demonstration at the Beverley Uranium mine almost 10 years ago, was degrading, humiliating and frightening.

The judge also criticised two state government ministers for their comments about the protesters, including Deputy Premier Kevin Foley who called them a bunch of "ferals" who put the safety of police in jeopardy.

The group, including a girl aged 11 at the time, had sued over their treatment during the May 2000 anti-nuclear demonstration, which involved about 100 protesters, claiming they were assaulted, subjected to mental injury, deprived of food and water and humiliated.

In 2002, a Police Complaints Authority (PCA) report found one police officer had used excessive force in striking a protester with a baton while another used capsicum spray on a protester who was already injured and posed no threat.