A CHINESE man charged with the murder of shopkeeper Alan Cunniffe was remanded in custody following a one-minute hearing at Cloverhill District Court yesterday (Tuesday).
Shu Shen of no fixed address was remanded in custody in Cloverhill Prison until January 9.
The 24-year-old previously appeared at a special sitting of Kilkenny District Court at 10am on Sunday morning.
The man, who is of stocky build and speaks g
ood English, was dressed in a dark grey fleece, navy denim jeans and trainers. He was charged with the murder of Alan Cunniffe in Wolfe Tone Street on Friday and of robbing E13,760 from St John's Green Post Office on the same date.
Shen appeared to be calm and composed during the short hearing. He only spoke once when his solicitor, Tony Canny asked him if he understood what was going on.
He nodded and replied 'yes'. Mr Canny pointed out to Judge Gerard Furlong that his client did not require an interpreter as he spoke good English. However he added that as matters become more complex an interpreter may be required.
Although the failed asylum seeker gave his address as no fixed abode he is believed to have been living at the Old Rectory, Rosbercon, New Ross, Co Wexford since late August. He lived at the Ormonde hostel for asylum seekers in John's Green until August of this year.
He was arrested on Friday afternoon and brought to Kilkenny Garda Station where he was questioned for a number of hours by senior gardai and detectives.
The court heard that he was charged with murder at 1.07am on Sunday morning and made no reply after being charged.
Shu Shen reportedly moved to Ireland in 2003 on a student visa. He is also believed to have spent time in Limerick and Dublin. He lived in Kilkenny for a number of months just a few hundred yards from the scene of last Friday's murder.
Superintendent Pat Mangan has appealed to anyone who has come into contact with Shu Shin in the past to contact them in confidence. Shu Shin is 5'10" in height, of stocky build and has short black hair.
