A teenage boy who took a member of staff hostage at a special youth care unit in Limerick last night has been arrested in Co Kildare.
The boy (15) held a knife to the neck of a female staff member at around last night and ordered her to drive him to Dublin.
He then abducted a male staff member who had offered to go in his colleague's place.
The man's car was intercepted several hours later at Ballmany, Newbridge, Co Kildare following a chase involving gardaí from Portlaoise and the Garda Air Support Unit.
The boy was arrested and taken to Portaoise Garda Station.
The hostage was uninjured in the ordeal.
Gardaí declined to name the facility involved in the abduction.
The HSE said a full investigation has begun into the circumstances surrounding the incident.