Ambush?

Mini-donnybrook in Stoneybatter

Street fighting on a wednesday evening - sure why wouldn't two carloads of men be carrying weapons on a main Dublin thoroughfare - you never know when you might have to use them on a couple of other motorists.

Stoneybatter witnessed a sudden upsurge in its crime stats yesterday, as two carloads of men suddenly accessed weapons - clubs as far as could be seen by stunned observers - and proceeded to set upon the occupants of a third car, in what can fairly be described as a melee. This event, which held up traffic travelling in both directions, lasted several minutes.

The outnumbered parties did not appear to be native dubliners, while those in the majority (with clubs) could have passed for Dublin natives.

Certainly there was a degree of animosity between both parties, although it was difficult to discern the basis for the conflict. It was preceded by a bit of verbal....but it seemed rather....unspontaneous.

The whole remarkable affair came to a premature end when a lone uniformed Garda (presumably en route by car to another location) materialised, and at some risk to his own safety put a lid on the affair. So understated was his presence that some of the club wielders had to be warned by more observant colleagues not to beat people any further.

Does anyone know what this was about? This correspondent was puzzled.....is it a regular occurrence?