Lebanese prosecutors appeal against sentences for private Seán Rooney murder

Private Seán Rooney, killed on active service in Lebanon (Image: Defence Forces)

Prosecutors in Lebanon have formally lodged an appeal against the sentences handed down to those who were indicted for the murder of Private Seán Rooney, the Tánaiste has said.

The appeals include the sentences handed down for the attempted killing of Trooper Shane Kearney, Corporal Joshua Phelan and Trooper Nathan Bryan.

The main defendant at the military tribunal in Beirut was last month sentenced to death, but Simon Harris wrote to the Lebanese Government following the trial to express the disappointment of the Irish Government and in particular of the Rooney family at the leniency of the sentences handed down across the board.

While capital punishment is a legal sanction in Lebanon, reports suggest there has been a moratorium on executions since 2004.

The main defendant, Mohammad Ayyad, was absent from the proceedings as he was convicted at the military court last month, it is understood.

Mr Harris met with Private Rooney’s family last week and committed to "holding urgent talks with the Lebanese Justice and Defence Ministers in order to press for an appeal".

Those talks took place on Tuesday, according to a statement, with Mr Harris telling Private Rooney’s mother, Natasha McCloskey, that a number of steps have been taken.

This include:

- The appointment of a new military chief prosecutor who now will take over the case;

- An appeal against the sentences being formally lodged with the military Cassation Court;

- The Lebanese authorities committing to taking urgent steps to ensure the individual convicted of the murder of Private Rooney is taken into custody.

Mr Harris said: “I very much welcome the confirmation today from the Lebanese Justice and Defence Ministers that an appeal has been formally lodged against the sentences handed down in the case of the death of Private Seán Rooney and the injuries of his colleagues.

“I have this afternoon spoken with Seán’s mother, Natasha, who I was pleased also to meet last week.

“In my calls with my Lebanese counterparts, I made it clear that the sentences handed down in this case are simply not acceptable and are very disappointing.

“They have caused great upset and insult to the Rooney family and everything must be done to ensure justice is served for Seán and his colleagues who were injured.” 

Pte Rooney, who was 24 and from Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, was killed while on UN duty when the armoured vehicle he was driving from south Lebanon to Beirut came under fire in December 2022. Several others were injured in the attack.