A leading Dublin criminal is believed to have been one of two men who attacked a detective in the centre of Dublin.
He and another criminal, a man from the north inner city who is one of two brothers heavily involved in the drugs trade, attacked the detective in a car in Exchequer Street on Friday.
According to gardai the officer was assaulted briefly by the two men and suffered a broken tooth some bruising and cuts. The two attackers also broke a window in the officer's car.
The officer, who is stationed in Dublin Metropolitan Area Head quarters in Harcourt Square, is understood to have been able to identify the two attackers, who are now being sought by gardai.
The reason for the attack is not clear but it is possible the two criminals merely recognised the officer in the street and decided on impulse to attack him.
Dublin criminals are coming under increasing pressure from gardai who have targeted the city's professional crime syndicates as part of the investigation into the Veronica Guerin murder.