Scuffles broke out at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today during the sentencing hearing of two men convicted of membership of an illegal organisation.
A man and a woman were detained by gardaí after the disturbance at the main public entrance to the Green Street courthouse.
Gardaí and Special Branch detectives quickly moved in after a row developed between supporters of the two men and gardaí security at the courthouse entrance.
The disturbance occurred as the three judges at the court were considering the sentences on the two Dublin men who were originally arrested during a Garda investigation into the activities of the "Real IRA".
The two men were convicted last July.
Adrian Kirwan (27), with an address at Ardilaun Green, Ballymahon Road, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, was convicted of membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on December 5th, 2004. He was jailed for four years.
Sean Connolly (27), of Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell, Dublin, was also convicted of the same charge on December 14th, 2004, and he was jailed for six years.
During the trial the court heard that gardaí conducting a major surveillance operation stopped a car on the N4 outside Mullingar and arrested Kirwan. Connolly was arrested in Dublin later the same month.