Soccer shame

Families get caught up in violent scenes as thugs clash before FAI Cup Final

- PAUL HEALY

SHOCKING scenes of violence erupted outside a popular Dublin pub as football fans gathered for the FAI Cup Final.

The disturbing images, captured on showed thugs dressed in black hurling glass bottles and flares at a crowd of St Patrick's Athletic fans at the popular Irishtown House pub yesterday.

The large group of fans and families with children had gathered at the bar before the 4pm kick-off of the final between St Pat's and Bohemians FC at Dublin's Aviva Stadium.

But a small cohort of thugs caused a chaos when they launched glass bottle missiles and flares at innocent people, while children were also in attendance outside the pub.

Several people then got caught up in a mass brawl that spilled out into the streets following the shocking incident. Crowds of people can be seen in one video hurling punches at one another, while others desperately try to flee the violence.