Postmaster's Killer Sentenced

An armed robber who stole thousands of Euros from a post office and then shot and killed the postmaster has been handed down a life sentence.

Mr Justice Paul Carney sentenced Shu Shen, (25) - who is a Chinese national - to life in prison for killing Alan Cunniffe, who had only taken over as a postmaster two days earlier, and to 10 years for robbery and possession of a firearm.

The victim's brother, Declan, told Dublin's Central Criminal Court the family's world had crumbled the day Alan was shot dead.

He said their family and home were only a shell of what they were previously.

No strangers to tragedy, he said that their father Thomas died from cancer two and a half years ago, but that the unexpectedly brutal circumstances of Alan's death were "beyond belief".

Declan Cunniffe said Alan had paid the ultimate price for trying to protect the family business, when killer, Shu Shen took a bus to Kilkenny on 8 December last year.

Armed with a modified air pistol and a knife, he walked into the post office at John's Green, held up staff and got away with more than €13,000 in cash.

Alan Cunniffe ran after him, and when he tried to grab the bag of cash, Shu Shen shot him in the stomach. Mr Cunniffe died in hospital shortly afterwards.

(BMcC)