Gardaí are investigating a kidnapping and attempted robbery that occurred in Co Kildare over night.
Senior An Post manager Liam O'Sullivan and his family were targeted in the incident in Fennore that involved at least four armed men.
The armed gang entered the family's home at about 9.30pm last night and then left, taking his wife as a hostage, about 90 minutes later.
Mr O'Sullivan was ordered to drive to the GPO on O’Connell Street in Dublin this morning and to obtain a sum of money and await further instructions.
Gardaí became aware of the incident over night and a response team was established.
No money changed hands, and the woman was released at about 9am. She was physically uninjured.
A spokeswoman for An Post said the family was unharmed in the incident and that the matter was now in the hands of the Garda. "Everyone is safe," she said.
Gardaí have appealed to the public to come forward with information about the incident or if they noticed any suspicious activity in the Fennore area in recent days or on the M7 between Kildare and Dublin.
They have also appealed to anyone who noticed any suspicious activity near the GPO last night or this morning to contact them.
A Garda spokesman said they were attempting to trace the movements of two vehicles - a silver Honda CRV with the registration 05 DL 4275 and a silver Mercedes with the registration number 11 D 13049.
They believe the Mercedes was driven from Fennore to Rolestown in north Dublin before being taken to Boroimhe in Swords where it was found burned out.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter commended the Garda for its response and described such incidents as "odious".
“As a society we have to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure such criminal acts are not successful,” he said. “The cooperation of all employees in the financial services and cash handling sectors with the gardaí is of paramount importance when dealing with this type of crime.”
The Irish Post Masters Union condemned the incident, which it said represented an everyday worry for its members.
The union said it was a cowardly act and that it hoped the Garda and Minister for Justice would do everything in their power to bring the culprits to justice.
It said the majority of post office workers do not have access to cash and that the union and An Post have worked to develop security procedures for when such incidents occur.
Anyone with information should contact Newbridge Garda station on (045) 440180, the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
