A District Court judge has warned that the system of law and order would be "impossible to administer" if public disorder was tolerated in court rooms.
Judge Leo Malone made his comments as he jailed a number of people for their part in a fracas which erupted outside Limerick District Court yesterday.
Four adults and two minors were arrested shortly before midday after the row spilled into the main body of the courtroom, disrupting court proceedings for 15 minutes.
Within hours of order being restored, all six were brought before the court and charged under the Public Order Act.
Alan Kelly (18), Delmege Park, Moyross, was described in court as one of the "main protagonists" in yesterday's incident.
Objecting to bail, Insp Séamus Gallagher said he feared witnesses would be intimidated if Mr Kelly was released on bail. Judge Leo Malone remanded him in custody until Tuesday, when he is due before the same court.
The case against Anthony Collins (39), Hyde Park, Ballinacurra, Weston, who faces two public order charges, was also adjourned yesterday but bail was not refused in his case.
James Daly (22), Delmege Park, was jailed for two months after the court heard that he had thrown a can of orange at another individual, hitting him in the back of the neck.
Earl Ibraham, (18), St Patrick's Road, Limerick, was also jailed for two months yesterday for two breaches of the Public Order Act. Before jailing Ibraham Judge Malone described causing public disorder in a court room as a serious offence. "If it continues law and order will be impossible to administer."
A 17-year-old male who cannot be named for legal reasons was also jailed yesterday by Judge Malone. The teenager received a two-month jail term after the court heard that he had threatened a young woman whom he had also tried to kick. He received a further one-month sentence for a separate incident which took place at Henry Street Garda station last month where he verbally abused a female garda.
Judge Leo Malone agreed to adjourn the case of a 15-year-old youth also arrested and charged in connection with yesterday's incident pending a probation report. His solicitor, Sarah Ryan, said her client had never been in court before and had just got caught up in yesterday's disturbance when he came down to court to "see what it was like".