Gardaí say three men arrested during a cash-in-transit raid were ready for a confrontation with the force.

At the same press conference, the Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan refused to comment on the whistleblower scandal.

Two senior gardaí claim they were involved in a smear campaign, and there have been calls for the Commissioner to resign.

She was speaking at a press conference about a foiled cash in transit robbery in Co Meath, where she praised the work of gardaí.

“I’m here today to pay tribute to the work, and the on-going work, that is done by the men and women of the Garda Síochána,” she said.

Officers say one of those arrested was in full body armour. Gardaí also recovered a firearm as three men attempted to rob a cash in transit van carrying more than €200,000.

Superintendent Tony Howard said the men were ready for conflict in Dunboyne.

“Body armour speaks for itself. There was an anticipation on their part, i5t would appear, that they may come into conflict with An Garda Síochána,” he said.

The arrested men are understood to be significant players in the criminal world. They are being held at Blanchardstown and Finglas garda stations in Dublin.