Last Irish soldiers to leave East Timor today

The last Irish soldiers stationed in East Timor are due to leave the south-east Asian country today, ending three years of Irish involvement in the UNTAET peacekeeping force.

The first Irish soldiers were sent to East Timor in October 1999 after the population voted in favour of independence from Indonesia, which had invaded the country in 1975.

UNTAET - the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor - was subsequently established to act as an interim government until full independence, which was achieved earlier this year.

One Irish soldier died on peacekeeping duties in the country. Peadar O'Flaharta, from Co Galway, died in an accidental shooting last April.