Gardaí question three NI men over attempted ATM robbery

Three men, all from the North, are in custody after gardaí foiled an attempted raid on an ATM in County Kerry.

Gardaí were alerted to a number of men who were attempting to rip the ATM machine from the wall of the AIB bank on Castleisland's Main Street using heavy machinery at around 5am this morning.

Two of the men fled the scene in a van which then attempted to ram a Garda patrol car.

The men - both in their twenties - abandoned the vehicle around 10 kilometres outside the town and were pursued on foot by Gardaí and arrested following a violent struggle.

Both are being detained in Killarney Garda Station.

In a follow-up operation Gardaí arrested a third man in his 20's in Listowel - he is being questioned at Tralee Garda Station.

The heavy machinery used in the attempt has also been recovered.

The wall of the bank was badly damaged during the incident.