UPDATE: 'It's any parent's worst nightmare': Mums and dads' terror over security threat at Clare schools

PARENTS have told Limerick Live of their "shock and terror" after reports of security alerts at their children’s schools in county Clare this Tuesday.

Many mum and dads woke up to texts from their school to say the building was closed due to “exceptional circumstances”.  A photo of a threatening email sent to a number of schools in the Shannon, Sixmilebridge and Ennis areas was widely shared on social media. It refers to firearms.

Gardai took the matter very seriously, saying they were “currently assessing the contents and credibility of that communication”.

READ MORE: BREAKING: Major security alert forces closure of multiple schools in Clare

In a further statement this Tuesday morning they said: “Following initial assessment, An Garda Síochána is satisfied that the security threat is not credible and there is no ongoing risk to the public.”

However, parents of children have told Limerick Live of their "shock and terror" at the threats.

“It's any parent's worst nightmare,” said one young mum.

“Whether the threat was real, a hoax, or a prank, it's still really shocking. The potential for these things to happen is real, so it shouldn't be tolerated at any level. 

“All we want to do is keep our children safe. It's extremely sad and scary to see some of the things happening in Ireland today,” she said.

A father of children attending one of the affected schools said it was a surreal and scary morning.

“It’s like something you would expect to see maybe in the US but not county Clare. We got a message before 8am to say the national school was closed but we had no idea if it was lack of electricity or heating broken again. We needed to get out to work so organised to drop the child to the childminder.

“The older one headed off to secondary school with a neighbour. Next thing parents started to share the picture of the email around. For 20 minutes we didn't know what to do and then came the message from the secondary school to come and collect children,” he said.

The dad added: “What a scary morning. We were just happier knowing the schools were closed for peace of mind.

“Fair play to the schools for reacting quickly but you have to wonder what the world is coming to. I know the children will have so many questions.”

A number of Limerick children were heading to Clare schools on buses, including some with special needs, when word came through of the security threat and the boys and girls had to be dropped home.

Clare TD Cathal Crowe said: “Overnight, a shocking threat was made against schools in different parts of our county.

“Gardai acted swiftly on this ‘threat’ and have now confirmed to me that there is no active threat.

“This was a very scary incident for parents, students, school staff and the general public and I have full confidence in Clare’s gardai to properly investigate this and establish all the facts,” said Deputy Crowe.

READ MORE: Gardai issue update on security threat which forced Clare schools to close

Limerick TD Maurice Quinlivan said unfortunately this has caused huge concern to some people.  

“However, it’s good to see schools in Clare taking the precautions that they did, hopefully this despicable incident does not happen again as it causes fear and anxiety among residents, pupils and staff.

“Gardaí are investigating this and staff are dealing with this as best they can. To be clear, apart from the extremely upsetting email, no incident has happened. Please leave the gardaí to deal with this,” said Deputy Quinlivan.