Three men from Northern Ireland have been arrested in connection with the foiled theft of an ATM from a bank branch in Castleisland Co Kerry.
A Garda spokesman said local gardaí were alerted about the raid at about 5am this morning.
Arriving on the scene, they saw a number of men trying to remove the ATM from the wall of the bank on Main Street using heavy machinery.
Two men escaped in a van, trying to ram a Garda patrol car as they fled.
They abandoned their van some 10km outside the town and ran ran on to bogland near a farm. They were captured by gardaí following a violent struggle.
The two men, who are in their 20s, were arrested and taken to Killarney Garda station where they are being questioned under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
In a follow-up operation, a third man (45) was arrested in Listowel. He is being held at Tralee Garda station under the same act.
All three men can be held for 24 hours.
Gardaí also recovered heavy machinery in the search.
The Garda spokesman said extensive damage was caused to the bank.