The body of Irish UN peacekeeper Seán Rooney left Beirut in Lebanon this afternoon on an Air Corps plane and will land in Ireland on Sunday morning.
Private Rooney, 23, was a member of the Irish Defence Forces from Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal.
He was killed on active service when his convoy came under attack in Lebanon this week.
In his honour this morning, a UN ceremony was held for the soldier at Beirut Airport before his departure from Beirut.
READ MORE: Irish soldier Sean Rooney died a hero trying to save his colleagues in Lebanon ambush
Private Rooney's body will be taken to Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, before being reunited with his family on Monday.
His colleague, Private Shane Kearney, from Killeagh in Co Cork, was seriously injured in the incident and he remains in a serious condition in hospital.
The soldiers were part of the 121st Infantry Battalion, comprising 333 Irish troops, deployed in November to south Lebanon as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil).
As he makes his way home to Ireland to be laid to rest, Sean’s fiancee issued a heartbreaking message describing him as “ the most wonderful” person.
Sean was due to marry his fiancée Holly McConnellogue in August 2023 and in response to a video of the plane taking off, Holly said: "See you soon Seán”.
She described her beloved Sean as "the most wonderful, selfless person, who died doing what he loved".
She told the Irish Times: "We met three years ago yesterday, three years to the day he died,” before adding: "I’m absolutely heartbroken and it hasn’t sunk in yet that he’s gone, but I at least know that he died doing what he loved and serving his country."
The plane will stop in Malta for refuelling and is due to arrive in Baldonnel at around 8.30 am tomorrow morning, where his remains will be reunited with his family.
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