There was almost a complete stay-out by gardai in the midlands. Dozens of one-person stations stayed closed for the day and work was carried out by upper ranks.
While there were no serious incidents reported, court business was badly disrupted. Many minor cases were struck out where defendants turned up.
The sittings of the District Courts at Portlaoise, Moate, Co Westmeath, and Ballymahon, Co Longford, adjourned serious cases.
But in Portlaoise and Moate, where a number of speeding and other offences had been listed, some defendants walked out without penalty when offences were struck out after Garda witnesses did not appear.
Fortunately for motorists leaving Dublin city for the weekend, a Garda presence was maintained at the two midlands bottlenecks, Kinnegad on the western road and Kildare on the Cork road, where large queues of cars formed.
An unusual sight in the Midlands yesterday was the arrival of the Minister for Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, without the usual Garda presence.
Gardai are normally on duty out of courtesy at locations being visited by Ministers but there was no Garda presence for Ms de Valera at Monasterevin, Kilbeggan and Mullingar. But during her stopover in Tullamore, Co Offaly, a senior Garda officer attended for a portion of the time she spent in the town.
Limerick gardai are claiming 100 per cent support for the protest and "virtually 100 per cent support" in the Clare division.
Up to 30 cases were dismissed at Ennis District Court as a result of the dispute. Cases were dismissed when gardai failed to appear. Defendants on a variety of motor-related offences, including speeding and failure to pay insurance and tax, were free to leave the court.
In Limerick, there were traffic jams in the areas where gardai usually direct traffic.
In Ennis District Court, an alleged assault on a garda was one of 20 cases dismissed.