SPECULATION that a meteorite struck a beach in Co Dublin appears to have been debunked after claims a hole thought to have been an "impact site" had been dug the week before by visitors with spades.
The hole in the sand at Portmarnock Beach was the focus of a TV news report by Virgin Media News after a passer by found a rock in the hole he believed had come from space.
The man was described as a "local astrophysics enthusiast" in the segment, and described how he came upon the hole while out for a walk.
A reporter said the man "is certain the small but heavy rock came from up above", but added there had been "no confirmation that this is the site of a meteor strike".
The segment described the hole as a "huge mysterious crater".
The man said when he saw the shape of the rock and the hole: "I knew immediately that what I was looking at was an impact site."
However, on Thursday Virgin Media News reported the mystery "has apparently been solved" as video emerged on Instagram of two men digging a hole at the beach with plastic spades last weekend.
Instagram user Charlie Wallace posted footage of himself and a friend digging a hole with the caption: "Made the news I guess."
Virgin Media News reported the space enthusiast they had interviewed was "disappointed", but said he still plans to get the rock he found "analysed in the hope that it wasn't a completely fruitless discovery".
