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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Michelle Devane

Body of young soldier killed in ambush to be repatriated to Ireland and reunited with family

The body of Irish UN peacekeeping soldier Sean Rooney will be repatriated to Ireland later on Sunday.

A member of the Irish Defence Forces, Private Rooney, 23, from Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, was killed on active service when his convoy came under attack in Lebanon this week.

The Defence Forces said Mr Rooney's remains will leave Beirut on an Air Corps plane at 4pm Beirut time.

READ MORE: Childhood friend of Irish soldier killed in Lebanon ambush 'felt heart break' at news

A UN ceremony will be held to honour the soldier at Beirut Airport before the departure.

Private Rooney's body will be taken to Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, before being reunited with his family on Monday.

16/12/2022 - A member of the Defence Forces looks at flowers, and tribute messages for Pte Sean Rooney, who died in an attack on the convoy he was travelling in, in Lebanon on Wednesday, pictured outside Aiken Barracks, Dundalk (Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

His colleague, Private Shane Kearney, from Killeagh, Co Cork, was seriously injured in the incident. He remains in a serious condition in hospital.

Two other peacekeepers were treated 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).

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