Reports of an alleged abduction triggered a massive Garda alert in Limerick yesterday after a number of people witnessed a youth being bungled into a car by three masked men.
However, less than 12 hours later it emerged that local third-level students making a short film had staged the "abduction".
A number of people - including an off-duty garda - raised the alarm after seeing a youth being pulled into a silver saloon car by three men wearing balaclavas on Monday night.
The incident happened shortly after 12.30 p.m. in the Quinlan Street area as the car sped off in the direction of Dooradoyle.
Gardaí from nearby Roxboro Garda station immediately set up checkpoints around the city and all patrols were placed on alert.
Shortly after 11.30 a.m. yesterday morning, however, it emerged that the apparent "abduction" had been staged by students from Mary Immaculate College who were shooting a short film for their media studies course.
The college alerted the gardaí after hearing reports of the alleged abduction on early morning bulletins.
"We have to treat matters like this very seriously especially given the history of what has happened here in the past in this city," said a Garda spokesman. He confirmed that no action would be taken.