Updated 14:45

STAFF AT APPLE facilities in Cork returned to work this afternoon after a security threat was lifted.

Gardaí today confirmed that they had performed a full search and risk assessment of facilities after an unspecified threat led to an evacuation of buildings at Lavitts Quay and in the Hollyhill Industrial Estate.

Many of the staff evacuated were AppleWorks staff, who work in the customer support area of the business.

The Defence Forces had earlier been informed and the Bomb Disposal team and the Engineer Specialist Search Team had been on standby but they were not deployed.

It is not clear at the moment what the source of the threat was.

With reporting from Cormac Fitzgerald

- First published 11.30am