The heartbroken fiancee of murdered Irish soldier Sean Rooney has revealed how the pair were planning to get married next year.
Grieving Holly McConnellogue says brave Sean, who was gunned down in the Lebanon while on a UN peacekeeping mission, was doing a second stint in the war-torn Middle Eastern country so that he could save for their wedding day.
Distraught Holly said that she is “absolutely heartbroken”, but that she finds comfort from the fact her partner “died doing what he loved and serving his country”.
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Hero Sean was fatally shot in the head as he desperately tried to drive his comrades to safety after they were ambushed by an armed gang in southern Lebanon.
Fellow Irish soldier, Shane Kearney, suffered a fractured skull in the attack and is fighting for his life in hospital.
Derry-born Ms McConnellogue told The Irish Times they were planning to get married next August.
She added: “When the opportunity came up for him to go to Lebanon again, we were saving to be married, and he took that opportunity for us. He was so selfless, and he wanted to help other people over there too.”
Holly revealed how Sean died on the third anniversary of their first meeting.
She stated that he taught her a lot “about herself and about unconditional love".
“He really showed me what unconditional love is like,” she said.
“Even though he’s gone, it was still worth it to have known him for these three years.”
Holly also spoke about how, in her final interactions with Sean, the pair had arranged to speak on the phone, but they had to reschedule.
“We were supposed to Facetime, but he said he had to drop a friend to the airport because he had a bereavement... that was the last I heard from him” she said.
Meanwhile, army bosses are preparing to medevac hero Shane Kearney back home for emergency treatment — as Lebanon vows to hunt down the killer of Private Seán Rooney.
“Investigations are continuing into the killing of the Irish soldier, and whoever is found guilty will receive his punishment,” Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati insisted yesterday.
Sources have told this paper that military chiefs are working on a plan to get Trooper Kearney out of Lebanon by aircraft so he can get expert treatment for the serious head injuries he suffered in Wednesday’s attack.
Cork-born Trooper Kearney (22) suffered several fractures of his skull in the mob attack in the village of al-Aqbiya and was last night receiving treatment in a United Nations hospital.
Sources say as soon as his condition stabilises enough for him to be taken from the hospital — which will probably be the middle of next week — the Killeagh native will be flown home for specialist care.
The sources said the most likely destination would be Beaumont Hospital in north Dublin – which is the national specialist site for treating serious head injuries, although a facility in Europe or even America is also possible.
“Wherever the best option for treatment is, that is where we will take him,” a source said. “But it is most likely Beaumont.”
Trooper Kearney suffered his injuries when the Defence Forces’ white armoured United Nations jeep crashed after it was shot at on Wednesday night.
Private Rooney was shot once in the head as he tried to drive the armoured Nissan jeep away from an angry mob that attacked it after it got separated from another Irish vehicle as they headed in convoy to Beirut International Airport.
Trooper Kearney was seriously injured when the jeep was upended following the shooting — and two other soldiers received less serious injuries.
All three were still in hospital last night, as investigations into the brutal attack began — and Prime Minister Mitaki vowed there would be justice for Private Rooney’s death.
Mr Mitaki made his comments on a visit to the headquarters in southern Lebanon of UNIFIL – the United Nations peacekeeping mission in which Private Rooney was serving when he was murdered.
Mr Mitaki also paid tribute to the UNIFIL mission — which includes more than 340 Irish soldiers.
He said: “We express our great appreciation for UNIFIL’s contribution to peace and stability in southern Lebanon.
“I am here to confirm once again that the Lebanese people and I deeply appreciate the work you are doing, along with the army, to maintain peace and calm in the south.”
Meanwhile, an eight-strong Defence Forces team is now on its way to Lebanon to carry out its own investigation into the attack – which led to the first death of an Irish soldier on the mission since the year 2000.
The team includes military police investigators, counsellors and a legal officer.
Authorities are also preparing to repatriate the remains of Private Rooney – and it is likely the Government jet will be sent to bring his body home in the coming days.
And a Dundalk priest last night issued a statement on behalf of the Rooney family — in which they said they were praying for Trooper Kearney.
Fr Derek Ryan issued the statement on behalf of Private Rooney’s mother Natasha and his grandparents Eugene and Rachel.
Fr Ryan said: “The grandparents Eugene and Rachel and Natasha who is Sean’s mum would just like to send words of support and good wishes and prayers to Shane’s family at this time down in Cork, Shane Kearney’s family.
“We know that Shane has undergone an operation in Lebanon and we hope that he is keeping well and that he progresses well in the hours and weeks ahead.
“The family would like to convey their good wishes and prayers to the family and Shane and his fellow personnel who are in hospital at this time.”
The attack happened when the jeep the soldiers were travelling in became separated from another UN vehicle as they drove in convoy to Beirut Airport, around two and half hours form the Irish base in the south of the country.
The car stopped and tried to get back to the first vehicle — when tragedy struck.
It’s understood they came under gun attack and were then surrounded by a crowd.
Private Rooney tried to drive away, but was shot.
When the jeep came to a halt, sources say the rolled the car over or crashed – and Trooper Kearney was then seriously injured.
Trooper Kearney’s girlfriend Joanne Padden took to Facebook yesterday to ask for prayers for him. “Please keep Shane in your prayers,” she wrote.
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