Honour for pensioner who foiled gun robber
Published: October 2, 2006
A PENSIONER who foiled an armed robber wielding a gun and hammer was today honoured at Scotland’s top bravery awards.
Thomas Kinnear, of Oxgangs Road, was one of 70 “ordinary heroes” from around the country recognised for their bravery at the Scotland’s Heroes award held at Edinburgh Castle this morning.
The 71-year-old was opening his post office on Coltbridge Avenue, Murrayfield, when he was attacked by Dean White, who was carrying a gun and a hammer. Mr Kinnear managed to fight off his attacker, who fled the scene.
He was joined at today’s ceremony by Dale Scott, 52, who witnessed the attempted robbery in July 2004 and chased after White. Mr Kinnear retired from his job at the post office soon after the incident.
He said: “I’ve left it all in the past now. It was a few years ago now and I focus on other things. It’s not an incident that haunts me or anything like that.
“In a way it is good to be recognised with an award like this - it’s very pleasant - but I don’t think of myself as a hero.
“Looking back, I’m very glad I didn’t hit the guy - that was commendable for me. I was lucky I wasn’t assaulted but I was also lucky I didn’t do anything and get arrested because I was thinking about it at the time.
“I certainly knew I wasn’t letting him in the post office.”
Mr Kinnear added that he was disappointed that the ceremony clashed with a cycle training session he takes part in with over-50s every Monday to encourage them to use bikes.
It is not the first time the pair have been honoured for their heroics during the terrifying incident. Mr Kinnear was given a meritorious award and Mrs Scott a bravery award from Lothian and Borders Police.
Judge Lord Wheatley, who sentenced White to eight years for the attempted robbery, praised Mr Kinnear at the trial, saying: “The only reason the attempt to rob was unsuccessful was due to the determination and courage of the postmaster who, I think, has suffered as a result of what happened.”
Other recipients of the award, which is now in its third year, are pensioner James Healy, 69, and Matthew McKeon, 63, from Southhouse Loan.
They foiled a robbery at a neighbour’s house after wrestling with the teenage thieves. The youths escaped empty-handed but were identified and arrested by police.
Dad-of-two Stuart Hutson, 39, and Frenchman Cedric Francoise, 25, who flew over to Scotland for the ceremony, were also awarded. The pair were working at Mortonhall Caravan Park when thieves tried to steal one of the caravans. But the two blocked off the escape route by lining cars along the road.
Mr Hutson said: “We saw this car coming into the park and to be honest we didn’t think they looked like normal caravan people, especially when they stopped by the caravan they tried to steal.
“We phoned the police, but while they were coming we got the cars out and parked them along the street and took pictures of them stealing the caravan without them realising. It was great to see their faces as they tried to drive off and saw they were blocked in.”
Nicholas Gibb, 31, from Slateford, has also been honoured for catching a thief who stole a car stereo from a vehicle in Brunswick Place in 2004.
First Minister Jack McConnell, who presented the awards, said: “Every year I am inspired by the bravery and courage of individuals across Scotland. When I hear how they have acted instinctively to tackle often dangerous criminals, I am proud of their decency and selflessness.”
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