It is understood that a man, who was cleaning out a recently purchased house, recognised the object as a grenade and placed it in the back garden before raising the alarm.

Five youths were due in court today in connection with a brutal rape and attack in Co Clare.

Four teenagers and a 24-year-old man appeared in court in Ennis last night where they faced three charges, each arising out of an incident in Co Clare early yesterday when a woman was allegedly raped and her boyfriend seriously assaulted.

Four young men are expected to appear at a special court sitting in Co Clare this evening, in connection with an alleged serious assault in the early hours of this morning.

Gardaí in Co Clare have arrested four teenagers and a man in his 20s in connection with a serious sexual assault in Cratloe Woods this morning.