Large crowds including public representatives are expected to attend the removal this evening and funeral tomorrow of young postmaster Alan Cunniffe, who was shot dead during a robbery in Kilkenny on Friday.
Throughout the weekend, customers of the post office, local residents and friends of the deceased man laid flowers at the scene of the shooting on Wolfe Tone Street, Kilkenny.
Mr Cunniffe, a microbiologist who had studied at UCD and UCC, had given up a career in food research in Dublin to come home to Kilkenny to help run the family businesses - a Centra supermarket and adjacent sub-post office - when his father, Tom, became ill. His father died two years ago.
Kilkenny city Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness said the fatal shooting "underlines the gun culture that is sweeping the country and raises serious questions about where and how criminals are getting access to guns".
He called for "urgent action by An Post and An Garda to provide protection to post offices especially on Fridays when large sums of cash are being collected by pensioners and other welfare recipients."
Kilkenny mayor Martin Brett said, "this is the first time we've had a shooting on the streets of Kilkenny, and the mood in the city is one of shock and horror".
He praised Mr Cunniffe as "a very brave young man trying to do the right thing but who paid the ultimate sacrifice".
Hand-written cards on the wreaths at the post office conveyed messages of shock and grief and many carried glowing tributes to Mr Cunniffe which echoed the sentiments being expressed by business, community and political leaders in the city. Tributes were also paid to Mr Cunniffe's voluntary work and active participation in community life. which included the preparation of Christmas hampers for pensioners with the local Lions Club.
Mr Cunniffe had been in the supermarket during the early afternoon last Friday when he was alerted to the robbery next door. He pursued the armed robber down Wolfe Tone Street but was shot in the stomach about 100 yards from the post office. Doctors from a nearby medical centre attended to him on the pavement before he was taken to St Luke's General Hospital.
A man was arrested shortly afterwards.
Mr Cunniffe is survived by his mother, four brothers and three sisters. Yesterday, Mr Cunniffe's body was returned to his family after a postmortem and a wake was held at the family home last night. His removal will take place to St Canice's Church, Kilkenny this evening at 7pm, and his funeral will be held tomorrow after requiem Mass at noon.
