The killing of a post office worker in an armed robbery in Kilkenny has been condemned as cowardly and senseless.
The victim, named locally as Alan Cunniffe, was shot in the stomach as he tackled a lone gunman who robbed his family business in the city centre. The raid took place in the busy John's Green post office on Wolfe Tone Street shortly after 12.10pm yesterday.
Mr Cunniffee (32) had only recently taken over the businesses from his mother.
Colleague Tom Hickey said the dead man was working in the shop when he heard the commotion, gave chase and tackled the gunman. It is understood women working behind the counter had already handed over a sum of cash.
Alan was shot around 300 yards from the post office and was taken to St Luke's General Hospital where he later died.
A man was arrested in Wolfe Tone Street in connection with the incident shortly afterwards and a handgun and a quantity of cash were recovered. He is being detained at Kilkenny Garda Station where he can he held for 24 hours.
The Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said he was shocked and horrified by the killing.
"This is a cowardly, senseless slaying of a good young man who was only doing his best and words really fail me in trying to express to his family and loved ones my sense of shock, and horror and grief of what has happened to them," he said
"The taking of life is such a terrible thing, but the senseless taking of a fine young man's life in these circumstances just leaves me with very little to say.
"My heart goes out to his family."
An Post has extended its deepest sympathy to the family and staff of Mr Cunniffe.
"We are shocked and horrified by the savagery of this criminal act," said chairperson Margaret McGinley and chief executive Donal Connell in a joint statement.
"Postmasters and their staff play an integral role in the lives of Irish people and their safety, and that of our customers, is at all times our primary concern. A senior An Post team is working closely with gardai and the post office assistants at the office have received medical attention."
John Kane, general secretary of the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) said the killing was a tragedy for the postmaster and his family.
"We want to extend to them the sympathies of all the postmasters and postmistresses from all around the country," he said.
The IPU last week criticised the Government for highlighting in the media that post offices would be holding more cash for double Christmas welfare payouts. "It is not a secret that there is more money in post offices, but I was concerned what affect highlighting it would have," he continued.
"What this does highlight is the risks run by postmasters and postmistresses every week and the responsibility they carry that's not often appreciated by the gardai or An Post."
Fine Gael's justice spokesman Jim O'Keeffe expressed his revulsion at the shooting said he was sickened by the increased targeting of post office staff by ruthless criminals.
"This is just the latest in a spate of criminal efforts in which innocent post office staff have been targeted," he added.
"The Irish Postmasters' Union is rightly concerned about this trend."
Labour's Tommy Broughan condemned the fatal shooting, adding: "This is a shocking incident that illustrates once again the vulnerability of post office workers and others who handle large sums of money on our behalf. Today's shocking attack creates a new dimension of seriousness. "