Gardaí complete probe into death of Private Sean Rooney

Private Seán Rooney (pictured) and his colleagues, who were all serving with Unifil, were just four minutes from the main highway into Beirut when their vehicle was fired on in the southern Lebanon village of Al-Aqibiya. Picture: Óglaigh na hÉireann

Gardaí have concluded their initial investigation into the death of Private Sean Rooney, who was killed while on peacekeeping duties in Lebanon in 2022.

The news comes just days before criminal proceedings against men suspected of having been involved in killing the 24-year-old soldier are heard in court in Lebanon on June 7.

The conclusion of the initial garda investigation means the way is now open for an inquest to be heard into Pte Rooney’s death.

Pte Rooney and his colleagues, who were all serving with Unifil, were just four minutes from the main highway into Beirut when their vehicle was fired on in the southern Lebanon village of Al-Aqibiya.

Trooper Shane Kearney, from Killeagh, Co Cork, sustained a serious head injury when the vehicle he was travelling in crashed and he is undergoing ongoing medical treatment.

Shortly after the incident, gardaí were deployed to Lebanon to offer advice and guidance to a Defence Forces multi-disciplinary team set up to look at what happened.

The main role of gardaí had been as part of the obligations to the State Coroner’s Service in Ireland under the provisions of the Coroner’s Act and the Garda Siochána Act. 

A garda spokesperson has now confirmed that the initial investigation has concluded. They said: “A file has been completed under the Coroner's Act and submitted to the Dublin City Coroner.” 

What happens now is that detectives will need to attend the inquest, and could be required to give their evidence. A Dublin District Coroner’s Court spokesperson told the Examiner: "The coroner is currently compiling the documentation required for the inquest.

“We have received a file from An Garda Siochana. No date has yet been listed for the opening of the inquest.”

The Department of Defence

Asked for a comment about the various investigations into Pte Rooney’s death, a Department of Defence Spokesperson said: “A number of investigations and reviews have been undertaken.

“These include investigations by the UN and An Garda Síochána (on behalf of the Dublin coroner). The Defence Forces have assisted with both of these investigations.

“In addition, the matter has been the subject of a criminal investigation in Lebanon and the matter is now before the Lebanese judicial system.” 

They added: “In order to avoid any potential impact on the criminal trial in Lebanon, there are restrictions in place with regard to the disclosure of the investigations undertaken.” 

Unifil’s internal "administrative" investigation was concluded early last year and submitted to the UN HQ in New York. A redacted version of it was handed over to gardaí and the Irish government.