The body of UN Peacekeeping Soldier Private Sean Rooney was flown back to Ireland this morning.
Mr Rooney’s body left Beirut, Lebanon over the weekend and arrived in Dublin this morning on an Air Corps plane. The plane landed at Casemount Aerodrome, Baldonnel, after 8am.
He was accompanied on this flight by a number of his colleagues from the 121 Infantry Battalion, including his company commander. The 23-year-old, originally from Newtowncunningham, Co. Donegal, was killed after his convoy came under attack in Lebanon.
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His colleague, Private Shane Kearney from Cork, was also seriously injured in the assault and remains in critical condition in hospital. Two other peacekeepers also received treatment for minor injuries.
The soldiers were part of 121st Infantry Battalion, comprising 333 Irish troops, which was deployed in November to south Lebanon as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil).
A UN ceremony was held on Sunday to honour Mr Rooney’s memory before his repatriation to Ireland. He is survived by his fiancee, mother, grandparents, sister and extended family.
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