Flannery has been punished for violent conduct

Flannery was cited after being accused of stamping on Julien Bonnaire in Munster's Heineken Cup defeat by Clermont Auvergne on 13 January.

The European Rugby Cup's three-man independent committee ruled that the offence was at the "top end in the level of seriousness".

Flannery does have the right to appeal against the suspension.

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The Munster player's suspension runs out on 19 March - four days after Ireland's final Six Nations game against England at Twickenham.

Flannery was legally represented by former Munster and Ireland international Donal Spring and accompanied to the hearing by Munster coach Declan Kidney.

Afterwards, Kidney and Flannery left without comment but Spring said:"We are very disappointed with the outcome and are considering an appeal".

The independent disciplinary committee was chaired by Christopher Quinlan (England) and also comprised Roger Morris (Wales) and John Doubleday (England).

Flannery made his Test debut during the 2006 Six Nations and was set to battle with Rory Best and Leinster's Bernard Jackman for the Ireland hooking berth.

He will be available for Munster's Heineken Cup quarter-final against Guinness Premiership leaders Gloucester at Kingsholm on 5 April.

Clermont flanker Alexandre Audebert was also banned for eight weeks for stamping on Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara in a separate incident during the same match.

Audebert was also cited for punching Munster replacement Alan Quinlan.