A massive search launched after a car was seen entering the water in west Clare last night, has been stood down.
The alarm was raised at around 8.00pm when a caller to the emergency services reported seeing a car in the water near the pier at Quilty.
The Irish Coast Guard marine rescue sub centre on Valentia Island in Kerry quickly mounted a multi-agency search and rescue operation.
The Doolin and Kilkee units of the Irish Coast Guard along with the Shannon based search and rescue helicopter, Rescue 115, were alerted.
Two units of the fire brigade and an ambulance from Ennistymon were sent to the scene. Ambulances from Kilrush and Ennis were also mobilised as well as several garda patrols.
The car was soon located in the water at the end of the pier and local divers were called into to carry out an initial search.
The Doolin and Kilkee Coast Guard teams launched their boats and carried out surface searches while the helicopter undertook sweeps of the local area.
At around 9.40pm, emergency services have confirmed that there were no persons found in the car.
Divers continued to search the water around the car while a crane was provided by a local building contractor to help lift the car from the sea.
There was speculation that the car may have been intentionally pushed into the sea and may have stolen in Limerick earlier in the day.
The search was stood down around midnight while Gardaí are continuing to investigate the matter.