Members of the Garda sub-aqua unit waded in to halt a battle between two feuding gangs in Limerick which broke out near a fast-food restaurant on the Ennis Road in Limerick.
Baseball bats, iron bars, pool cues and a wheel brace were amongst the weapons seized by gardaí following the mini-riot on Tuesday evening.
Fortunately, members of the Garda sub-aqua unit from Dublin - who were on their way back from Clare - were in the restaurant at the time and witnessed the row erupt shortly after 5 p.m.
Members of one gang spotted one of their rivals outside the restaurant and a fracas broke out between the rival factions in the car park.
Those involved in the fight were members of two families engaged in an ongoing bitter feud which has seen a massive escalation of violence since the murder of Eddie Ryan in the Moose bar 2½ years ago.
"I was waiting outside for a lift home from the gym which is beside the restaurant and I couldn't believe it when I saw them fighting.
"It was only 5 p.m. and they were killing each other," said one eyewitness.
While no one was seriously injured in the row, one man did receive a cut in the head but he made no complaint to gardaí.
"Luckily members of the sub-aqua team from Dublin were having something to eat in the restaurant at the time so they ran out and broke up the row really quickly," explained a Garda source.
A number of weapons were seized but no one was arrested.
Since the murder of Eddie Ryan in November 2001 Garda have investigated up to 100 different incidents involving gangs linked to the ongoing feud.
At the height of the tensions Limerick crime boss Kieran Keane was shot dead in an "execution style" killing on January 29th last.
Five men are currently in custody charged in connection with the investigation into his death.
Earlier this week, a 500 page Book of Evidence - containing 720 statements - was sent by the Garda to the Director of Public Prosecutions.