Limerick man causes security scare

A Limerick man who caused a security alert in Dublin Airport yesterday has been released without charge this morning.

The 25 year old was stopped yesterday at the airport screeners where a deactivated 9mm automatic handgun was found in his carry-on baggage. He was immediately arrested.

It turns out he was due to board a charter flight to Egypt with the tour company First Choice.

An airport spokeswoman said the man was going through security screening when an item in his hand luggage aroused suspicion among security staff.

The Irish Independent reports that the man said he believed it might have been put there by friends as a prank.

Further inquiries are now being carried out by the gardai in Limerick where the man lives.Gardai said last night that the man was regarded locally as a respectable citizen with no known connections to crime gangs and had never been in trouble previously

A file has been sent to the DPP in relation to the incident.