Four gardaí were assaulted and hospitalised after three separate incidents in Tralee, Co Kerry, while dealing with public order issues in the town centre over the weekend.
The gardaí were brought to Kerry General Hospital, treated for their injuries and detained overnight. The injuries were not too serious, and all four have now been released, according to Garda colleagues.
In the first of the incidents on Friday night two gardaí were attempting to deal with public order issues in the town square some time before midnight when they were set upon.
Two people were later arrested and a file is being prepared.
On Saturday night, also before midnight, in separate incidents, one garda was assaulted in the square and another garda was assaulted in the Garda station while dealing with a prisoner arrested for a public order offence.
It is understood the public order issues related to drunkenness and or substance abuse.
The early time of the incidents has surprised gardaí, who had seen a significant reduction in late night incidents thanks to earlier pub and club closing times in Tralee.
The cut of just half an hour in the closing times of late night pubs and clubs to 2am over the past year has seen 80 fewer public order and other alcohol fuelled offences in the past nine months.
The 725 offences recorded so far this year include assaults, abusive behaviour, drunkenness in public, riots and obstruction of gardaí, but are a significant improvement on the 805 recorded for the same period last year when pubs opened until 2.30 am, a recent meeting of the town's joint policing committee heard.
Garda Supt in Tralee Pat Sullivan, who sought the earlier closing times in the annual licensing court last year, said the reduction recorded in Tralee was directly related to the half hour cut in the hours of late night pubs and clubs.
He believes more row backs on pub opening hours would further significantly reduce public order incidents. Vintners with late night premises opposed the move - now in place throughout Kerry - saying it would have a serious impact on business.