code: private static IEntity getEntity(String key, Class<?> type, String service)
              throws GroupsException {
          return instance().igetEntity(key, type, service);
      }
docs: Returns an <code>IEntity</code> representing a portal entity. This does not guarantee that
  the entity actually exists.
  
  @param key String - the group key.
  @param type Class - the Class of the underlying IGroupMember.
  @param service String - the name of the component service.
  @return org.apereo.portal.groups.IEntity