Tributes paid to Irish peacekeeper who 'paid the ultimate price in the service of peace'
Irish UN peacekeepers investigate at the scene where unidentified open gunfire came on a UN peacekeeper convoy in Al-Aqbiya village, south Lebanon. Picture: AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari
Tributes have been paid to a member of the Irish Defence Forces killed while on duty in Lebanon on Wednesday.
One of the members of 121st Infantry Battalion of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), died after the convoy they were travelling in came under "small arms fire" at around 9.15pm Irish time yesterday.
Four of the eight personnel in the convoy were then taken to Raee Hospital near the city of Sidon in the wake of the incident.
One soldier was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. He has since been named as 23-year-old Private Seán Rooney from Newtoncunningham in Donegal.
Another soldier, who sustained serious injures in the attack and is currently undergoing treatment in hospital, has been named as 22-year-old Trooper Shane Kearney from Killeagh in Cork.
Speaking this morning, Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister Simon Coveney paid tributes to the fallen soldier and said an investigation into the incident is already underway.
Mr Coveney said it is the worst news for families to be receiving “to get a knock on the door late at night to be told your son has been killed in service.”
He said the peacekeeping soldier that was shot and killed was a “fantastic man” and was there to protect vulnerable people and he has made “the ultimate sacrifice” while in service for his country.
“This was not expected. Yes, there has been some tension on the ground but nothing like this and so this is not expected and obviously hugely unwelcome and incredibly sad.
“We’ll focus on establishing the truth, ensuring our personnel are safe and supporting the families that have been impacted,” he told RTÉs .
"We in Óglaigh na hÉireann are deeply shocked and saddened by the news of this tragic event and the loss of one of our peacekeepers," said Óglaigh na hÉireann Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Seán Clancy.
"Our thoughts are with his family, his friends and his fellow peacekeepers from the 121st Infantry Battalion. Our thoughts are also with those who were injured last night and their families and friends.
"We have one of our medical officers currently at Raee Hospital and we will ensure that our personnel get the best possible care. Our focus now is to ensure the safety and continued support for all our personnel deployed in Lebanon.”
President Michael D Higgins also offered his condolences this morning.
“It is with the deepest sorrow that I was this morning informed of the news of the death of a member of the Defence Forces serving on a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon," President Higgins said.
"As a people, we take great pride in our unbroken record of peacekeeping with the United Nations. However, we must never forget the dangers that come with this work, or how the members of our Defence Forces serving on peacekeeping missions abroad risk their lives every day in order to build and maintain peace in conflict zones across the world."
President Higgins said private Rooney lost his life "serving the people of Ireland, serving the United Nations, and serving all those wishing for peace in our shared world."
"May I also wish a speedy recovery to those other members of the Defence Forces injured in the incident. Our thoughts are with them at this time," he added.
PDFORRA General Secretary Gerard Guinan said his organisation was "shocked and saddened" to hear of the death of a member in Lebanon.
"Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers goes out to his family, friends and comrades," he said.
"We also hope for the speedy recovery and safe return of his injured colleague."
A spokesperson for the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) said they were "devastated" that a comrade had "paid the ultimate price in the service of peace in Lebanon"
"Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased and injured, and their colleagues," the spokesperson said.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin expressed the "heartfelt sorrow of the Government of Ireland at the loss of a young person serving overseas with the United Nations."
"In particular, I extend to his family our deepest sympathies for the terrible loss they have suffered."
Mr Martin said the soldier's death was a reminder that "our peacekeepers serve in dangerous circumstances, at all times, in the cause of peace."
"Our thoughts are with his colleagues, and to the wider Defence Forces family and all who serve overseas, we know how deeply you will feel this loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you."
Speaking in Brussels, the Taoiseach said Ireland's peacekeepers are "the best example of Ireland's contribution to the world".
In the Dáil, the Tánaiste led condolences as TDs paused for a moment's silence to remember Private Rooney.
Leo Varadkar said he had travelled to Lebanon five years ago and had visited the Irish UN memorial in Tibnin for the more than 40 Irish peacekeepers who have lost their lives.
"I also witnessed the close links between Irish forces and the local community inside Lebanon. It was one of those moments where the boundaries of culture, language, race and religion fell away and we were reminded of our shared humanity."
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said Private Rooney had put himself at risk "for the highest values" and that was to secure international peace.
He spoke of meeting the secretary general of the Arab League while on an Oireachtas trip to Egypt a number of years ago who told the group that the work of Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon will never be forgotten.
"He said that when militias came to attack a village, the Irish soldiers held the line and said 'You shall not pass, we shall keep the peace,' and that may be of very little comfort to the Rooney family this morning, but our thoughts and prayers go to them and recognise that our soldiers, Seán, put himself at risk for the highest values, for the highest purpose, for the most important need which is for us to try to protect peace in our world."
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said no words expressed in the Chamber would be enough, but she said the people of Ireland hold Private Rooney's family in their hearts today.
"Our peacekeepers are heroes, they define the Irish spirit of courage, compassion and care and our inherent desire to keep people safe.
"Our peacekeepers have done Ireland and humanity some services and it is for these reasons that the people of Ireland are so very, very proud of them."
Labour leader Ivana Bacik also paid tribute to the courage and sacrifice made that those serving overseas on peace-keeping duties.
Gary Gannon expressed sympathies on behalf of the Social Democrats.
Independent TD Denis Naughten said the tragic death has reminded the public of "how difficult and how dangerous" a job our defence forces carry out in volatile regions on behalf of the State.
"Sean made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of international peace," Mr Naughten told the Dáil.
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