The suspicious device left at an Arran Quay church in Dublin city centre last night has been described as an "elaborate hoax" by a gardaí.
A spokesman said a similar device had been left in the same area two months ago. "No warning or code words were given in either case. The investigation is ongoing," he said.
Army bomb disposal experts rushed to Arran Quay in after gardaí alerted them to the find.
A Department of Defence spokesman said: "It [the device] turned out to be a hoax, a circuit board, wires and a clock. It was left at one of the pillars in Arran Quay church near the AIB Bank."
Gardaí cordoned off the area around 10.30 p.m. and traffic was diverted away from the quays.
The spokesman said: "It is possible that someone may have mistaken the bank for the Four Courts."
Four members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal were at the scene for around an hour.