BREAKING: Gardaí probe possible email hack and 'swatting' in Clare schools threat

GARDAI are investigating if the email account of the person, who purportedly sent threats to a number of schools in Clare this Tuesday, was hacked.

The investigation is at a very early stage but Limerick Live understands this is one of a number of lines of enquiry being probed by gardai.

One source said it was a “prank” or a “swatting exercise”.

Swatting is an American phenomenon where a hoax call or form of contact is made to emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address.

The name and address of an individual is included in the email at the centre of this Tuesday's security alert. The email which makes references to firearms, was sent to primary and secondary schools in the Shannon, Ennis and Sixmilebridge areas.

Parents were contacted by schools early this morning to inform them that they would not be opening due to “exceptional circumstances”.

A garda spokesperson said that following the initial assessment they are “satisfied that the security threat is not credible and there is no ongoing risk to the public”.

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

One source with knowledge of the investigation said it was “a prank” by persons unknown who “hacked” into the sender’s email account.

They said the person at the centre of this is a juvenile.

“People are quite sensitive to the screenshot that has been widely circulated on social media because, obviously, it names the young fella and if he had nothing to do with it, it’s very unfair,” they said.

The garda investigation is ongoing.