Two detectives were assaulted when they attempted to separate two rival groups at Sheriff Street at around 9pm.

Many of the group were wearing Dublin jerseys and had been drinking for most of the day. Two families in the same neighbourhood are involved in an ongoing dispute which centres on the sexual abuse of a young girl.

Two detectives were manning a permanent post when they went to talk to two people who got out of a taxi 30 yards away. They had been gone less than two minutes when the trouble flared.

Fistfights broke out and the two plainclothes officers rushed back to try to restore order. They attempted to prise apart several people who are central to the feud but some of the crowd turned on them and began to assault them.

The officers called for back-up and members of the Special Branch and Organised Crime Unit arrived and managed to break up the fighting. The two officers were not badly injured and have been praised by their colleagues for the bravery.

The two families live directly opposite each other which has meant that a 24hour permanent post has had to be manned by at least two gardai for the past five months.