Gardaí detain man after suspected abduction of three children

Gardaí are continuing to detain a man in his 30s, in connection with a suspected abduction in Co Wicklow earlier today.

Gardaí launched a major search operation after a man took three children, aged 12, nine and seven, from a school this morning.

He left with the children in a Nissan Almera car and the alarm was raised.

Garda checkpoints were set up across Wicklow and the car was located in the Rathnew area.

The man was detained following a short pursuit and taken to Wicklow garda station.

The three children are said to be safe.