Post worker dies after armed raid in Kilkenny

A post office worker has died after being been shot during an armed robbery at his workplace in Kilkenny city today.

The man, an employee of the post office, was shot in the stomach during the raid. He has been named locally as Alan Cunniffe and was in his thirties.

He was taken to St Luke's General Hospital where he was pronounced dead earlier this evening.

The raid happened shortly after midday when a lone gunman entered the John's Green post office on Wolfe Tone Street and demanded cash.

Eyewitnesses say the gunman fled the scene with a sum of money and was followed by a member of staff, who was shot when he tried to apprehend the thief.

The robbery happened in the John's Green area shortly after 12.10pm. Gardaí subsequently arrived at the scene and arrested the suspected gunman.

The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has said he is horrified and deeply saddened by the death of the post office worker.

He described it as a cruel and senseless taking of a young man's life.

A man was arrested in Wolfe Tone Street in connection with the incident and a handgun and a quantity of cash were recovered.