Nine men have been jailed for their involvement in a mass brawl in Limerick last summer.
Jailing the men, Judge Carroll Moran said he had to take into account Garda evidence relating to their involvement in the feuding for which the city has become notorious.
Judge Moran said he would be leaving himself open to "the most serious and well justified criticism" if he failed to impose strict sentences
The nine men were jailed over what the court heard was a "pitched battle" outside Supermacs fast food restaurant on the Ennis Road in Limerick city on May 27th 2003.
The court heard that rival factions in the ongoing turf wars centered around two families in the city brawled with each other using weapons such as a golf club and a snooker cue.
The 13-day trial heard that only Garda intervention prevented serious injuries or fatalities ensuing from the row.
Four men, Patrick McCarthy (32), College Avenue Moyross; Kieran Ryan (20), Pineview Gardens, Moyross; Edward McCarthy (24), O'Callaghan Avenue, Kileely; and David McCarthy (27), O'Callaghan Aveune, Kileely, all in Limerick, each received six-year sentences. David Sheehan (20), Cliona Park, Moyross, Limerick was jailed for five years and three months.
All five had pleaded not guilty to violent disorder.
Raymond Collopy (34), St Ita's Street, St Mary's Park and Declan Sheehy (37), St Brendan's Street, St Mary's Park, Limerick were jailed for two years and three years respectively after they pleaded guilty to the same charge.
Philip Collopy, (24) St Ita's Street, St Mary's Park, Limerick and Anthony Keane (41) St Munchin's Street, St Mary's Park, Limerick were both jailed for two years after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a weapon.