Water meter installer 'threatened with gun'; firearm later found in river

A man has been arrested in Co Clare after an Irish Water meter installer was threatened with a gun.

The man in his 50s is being questioned following the alleged incident in Clarecastle, near Ennis, this morning.

At around 9.20am today, gardaí were called to a house at Key Road, Clarecastle where workers had arrived to install an Irish Water meter.

Gardaí are investigating reports that the worker had a rifle pointed at him by a local resident. No shots were fired and no one was injured in the incident.

The resident was arrested and taken to Ennis garda station where he is being held for questioning under Section 30 of the Criminal Justice Act.

In a follow-up search, gardaí recovered a firearm from the river. It is not know whether the rifle was loaded and it is now being sent for technical examination.