Inquest hears plaudits for slain Kilkenny postmaster

A POSTMASTER who died after being shot by an armed robber was admired for his bravery and courage and held in high regard by the community, an inquest into the man’s death heard yesterday.

The jury at the inquest in Kilkenny City into the death of Alan Cunniffe, 32, the postmaster at John’s Green, returned a verdict of unlawful killing in relation to the late postmaster.

On the recommendation of coroner Rory Hogan, they ruled that he died as a result of haemorrhaging and shock injuries to the liver and aorta following a gunshot wound in the abdomen.

Alan Cunniffe died as a result of his injuries in St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, at 3.13pm on December 8, 2006. Yesterday’s inquest heard that he had given chase to a man who robbed money from the post office at John’s Green and was shot at about midday.

Despite being attended to at the scene by a doctor and receiving emergency surgery in the hospital, “he succumbed to his injuries”, state pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy said.

A witness who saw the shooting take place, Paul Maher, said in a statement read out at the inquest that the incident happened after a chase and a struggle between Alan Cunniffe and the armed robber.

After the assailant shot Mr Cunniffe once, the witness said Alan Cunniffe fell to the ground. “He was sitting up and holding his stomach,” said Mr Maher in his statement, adding that the postmaster was “screaming with pain”. The whole incident lasted for about a minute and a half.

Dr Cassidy said that the victim lost “a considerable quantity of blood” as a result of his injuries, which included a “gaping hole” in his liver. The bullet had gone through the liver and into the aorta before lodging on the second lumbar vertebrae, she said.

Post office worker Heather White’s statement said that the man who came into the premises was wearing a balaclava and carrying a gun and a knife. He said: “Money, now” and repeated it, before coming behind the counter and taking money, which he put in a backpack.

Mr Cunniffe, who was coming into the premises as the perpetrator was leaving, gave chase.

Offering sympathy to members of the Cunniffe family who were present for the hearing, coroner Rory Hogan said: “While not wishing to detract from the horror of his death, I express the hope that they can take some consolation from the high regard in which Alan was held and the admiration we all have for his bravery and courage.”

Last December, Chinese man Shu Shen, aged 25, was given a life sentence after being found guilty at the Central Criminal Court of the murder of Alan Cunniffe.