Hundreds mourn Kilkenny postmaster

Hundreds of mourners have turned out in Kilkenny today for the funeral of the postal worker shot dead last week after tackling an armed raider.

Alan Cunniffe was shot in the stomach last Friday when he chased a lone gunman who held up a post office in the John's Green area of the city.

Post offices across the country closed for an hour at noon today as a mark of respect to the 31-year-old, who is being laid to rest following requiem mass in St Canice's Church.

Mr Cunniffe had only recently been appointed postmaster in the sub post office next to his family's supermarket.

His mother, Muriel, led the mourners at today's funeral along with his brothers Declan, James, Enda and Thomas and sisters Ann, Muriel and Emily.

A 24-year-old unemployed Chinese man has been charged with murdering him and with robbing the post office of almost €14,000.

He was remanded in custody until January 9th during a brief court appearance in Dublin today.