A shopkeeper -- the victim of repeated crime -- was murdered during a robbery last night.

Father-of-two John Deasy was stabbed to death when he came to the rescue of a female shop assistant.

Today gardai were hunting the 6ft 4ins tall killer.

Mr Deasy (right) had been the victim of several raids at his corner shop in Arklow, Co Wicklow.

Our picture shows paramedics battling in vain to save his life.

Parish priest Fr Martin Cosgrove, who administered the last rites, told the Herald it was a "bleak morning" for the town.

"It's an appalling thing that this can happen to a man trying to run his business," he added.

"It's a bleak morning in the community this morning, that a man who was going about his daily life, trying to run his business, has died tragically," the priest said.

"It's a tragedy for his family who are very involved in the parish. It's a terrible occasion for them and our thoughts, support and sympathy are with them. It's an appalling thing that this can happen.," Fr Cosgrove added.

"An incident like this can have no place in a caring community. It has no place in any civilised community," he said.

"People here know one another and are connected with one another. I knew him to see. I know his daughters quite well.. Your heart would go out to them,". Fr Cosgrove said.

Weapon

The foiled robbery happened at around 8pm yesterday at Brauders shop on Coolgreany Road. Gardai were today searching the St Peter's Place estate for a weapon after the assailant was believed to have fled in that direction following the incident. Mr Deasy was separated from his wife, Briann Greene.

They had two children, Sarah Kate and Emma.

His body remained at the scene this morning in advance of the arrival of the state pathologist. Mr Deasy's premises was robbed on at last two occasions in recent years.

A local jewellery shop owner, John Swan, said there have been a lot of robberies in the area, particularly of grocery stores.

"(Mr Deasy) said he was concerned about being robbed. It is a fear everywhere. You just don't know what is around the corner," Mr Swan said.

Wound

Paramedics fought in vain last night to save Mr Deasy's life. He collapsed with a knife wound to the chest after the robbery.

Mr Deasy, whose daughters are aged 14 and 12, died on the footpath outside his shop. Locals looked on as emergency services and gardai tried to help him for nearly half an hour.

A murder hunt was launched as further details leading up to the horrific killing emerged.

A lone raider is believed to have entered the shop around 8pm last night. A female assistant was in the store at the time.

Mr Deasy was in the living quarters over the shop and went to help her. It is understood he noticed what was happening in the store on CCTV and ran down to help his assistant.

It is believed he grappled with the assailant at the door of the shop and received a fatal stab wound to the heart.

Gardai say they are interested in establishing the identity of a man, described as being 6'4" in height and wearing a dark jacket, who was believed to have been in the area at the time.

Local councillor Nicky Kelly, who knew Mr Deasy well, paid tribute to the popular shopkeeper. "John was a well-liked and easy-going individual, with two young daughters going to school. The fact he died this way is shocking," he said.

Mr Deasy was born in Tipperary and grew up in Co Wexford.

Fine Gael councillor Sylvester Bourke paid his own tribute to Mr Deasy.

"I met him every week. I'm gobsmacked at what happened. He was a great character. He'll be very sadly missed," Mr Bourke told the Herald.

hnews@herald.ie

- Conor Feehan and Cormac Murphy