UCD is investigating an embarrassing breach of its registration rules after a group of students dressed in pink panther outfits managed to obtain three official student identity cards.
The students agreed as a prank to dress up in the outfits and managed somehow to have their pictures taken and included on the front of three cards. These cards allow students to enter various places on campus, including the library, sports halls, lecture halls and the bar.
According to the student newspaper, College Tribune, the students involved are studying in the law faculty. The paper claims the students have successfully used the card to enter the library and bar. It is a breach of UCD's registration rules for a student to mis-represent themselves in any way.
A spokesman for the college said it was still trying to find out exactly how the students managed to pull off the prank. He added that student cards were very precious and should not be altered or undermined in any way. He said he hoped the students involved would return the cards.
Thousands of students are registered each year with UCD from several faculties. There are rarely any pranks or problems.
Ms Blaithnaid Healy, news editor with the paper, said the prank had gone down well among students and owning one of the cards had acquired a certain cachet among students.