The body of Irish UN peacekeeper Seán Rooney arrived at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel today after travelling from Beirut International Airport overnight on an Air Corps aircraft.
Private Rooney, 24, was shot and killed last week when the armoured vehicle he was travelling in was attacked in a coastal village in southern Lebanon.
The remains of Irish UN peacekeeper Seán Rooney have arrived back in Ireland this morning. The Air Corps CASA aircraft landed just after 8.30am @rtenews pic.twitter.com/agb3bs2aiD
— Sinéad Hussey (@SineadHus) December 19, 2022
Private Rooney was accompanied on the flight by a number of his colleagues from the 121st Infantry Battalion, including his company commander, Commandant Brian Connolly.
His coffin, draped in the Irish Tricolour, was taken from the Air Corp CASA aircraft and carried by his comrades from the 2nd Brigade military police company based at Cathal Brugha Barracks.
Private Rooney's mother Natasha, his fiancée Holly McConnellogue and grandfather Eugene were among those present when the aircraft landed.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Micheál Martin and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Sean Clancy were also in attendance this morning.
Pte Rooney's remains were reunited with his family in Baldonnel where a short prayer service took place.
Shortly afterwards, the white coffin was driven away in a hearse accompanied by a garda escort.
A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out.
Books of Condolence have been opened at three locations in Co Donegal in memory of Pte Rooney.
Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Liam Blaney, said that the books are available for people to sign at County House in Lifford, and at the Public Services Centres in Letterkenny and Carndonagh.
The funeral mass for Pte Rooney will take place in Dundalk on Thursday.
His remains will be removed to the Holy Family Church in the town for funeral mass at 9am.
The remains will then be taken to All Saints Catholic Church in Colehill, Co Donegal for a burial service with full military honours.
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After a solemn UN ceremony at the airport yesterday, Pte Rooney's remains were placed on the Air Corps CASA plane which stopped off in Malta for refuelling, before landing in Dublin this morning.
Pte Rooney's colleague, Trooper Shane Kearney, 23, suffered blunt force trauma to the head in the attack, however the Irish officer commanding the 121st Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Damien Murphy, said that Trooper Kearney was making progress, but remains critically injured.
Meanwhile, three separate investigations are under way into what happened last Wednesday night at the coastal village south of the city of Sidon.
Speaking at Pte Rooney's repatriation ceremony yesterday, Lebanese Army General Pierre Saab said that all of his security agencies will do their best to find the truth.
He said anyone who proves to be an aggressor against UNIFIL - which is totally rejected by the Lebanese people - will be punished.
The Irish Defence Forces is conducting its own investigation which will be augmented today by a team of three Military Police and a lawyer from Dublin, as well as a specialised team from An Garda Síochána.
The garda delegation includes a Detective Superintendent and a Detective Inspector from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation as well as a Detective Sergeant from the Garda Technical Bureau, who is a ballistics expert.
A garda spokesperson said the delegation will also liaise with local law enforcement, and other agencies, who are investigating the incident.
Lebanese Minister for Defence Maurice Sleem visited the Irish UN headquarters this morning, to offer his condolences to the Officer Commanding, Lt Col Damien Murphy, over the killing of Pte Rooney.
Today, @LebanonDefense Minister @SleemMaurice paid a visit to the Irish Battalion base in Tiri, south Lebanon to offer his condolences to the Irish commander Lt Col Damien Murphy and UNIFIL head Major General Lázaro for the loss of Private Sean Rooney. pic.twitter.com/LCIfGplZUP
— UNIFIL (@UNIFIL_) December 19, 2022
Also present at the meeting at Tiri in south Lebanon was the head of the UNIFIL mission, Major General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz.
Additional reporting Paul Cunningham
