Dublin city bomb scare 'an elaborate hoax'

The Defence Forces say a bomb scare that caused traffic disruption in Dublin this morning was an elaborate hoax.

Bomb disposal experts were alerted at around 10.30am after a suspicious package was discovered near the entrance to the District Court on North Brunswick Street in Smithfield.

The area around the courthouse was evacuated and traffic was diverted away from the scene, causing significant disruption to motorists on Manor Street and around Stoneybatter.

However, the Defence Forces say the package, while it was designed to look like a bomb, contained no explosive material.