The violent scenes began at 7.30pm when gardai attached to the local drugs unit attempted to search a known criminal on the Ballyogan estate.

However, the suspect fled and ran into a nearby property in Ballyogan Avenue. As a garda attempted to arrest the suspect, the door of the house was slammed shut.

Moments later, two teenagers emerged with a male in his 50s who was armed with a black metal baseball bat.

The garda was struck at least three times around the head, face and body as a large mob arrived at the scene and tried to assault the injured officer and his female colleague.

Unarmed assistance arrived a short time later, but gardai were forced to retreat due to the size and viciousness of the hostile mob.