Hero trooper Shane Kearney is coming home from Lebanon, it has emerged.
It can be revealed that the soldier – injured in the incident in which Private Sean Rooney was killed last Wednesday night – is now well enough to be moved. The Cavalry Corps trooper, 22, is to be flown back to Ireland later today.
The Defence Forces confirmed Trooper Kearney would be moved to Beaumont Hospital after landing in an air ambulance at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, South County Dublin this afternoon. It is the same Air Corps base to which the remains of Pte Rooney were brought on Monday.
A spokeswoman said last night: “The Defence Forces can confirm that Trooper Shane Kearney will be medically evacuated from Beirut Airport to Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel on Wednesday December 21, 2022. Using a specially equipped, contracted medical aircraft, the flight is due to land in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel.
“Trooper Shane Kearney will then be taken by ambulance to Beaumont Hospital to continue receiving medical treatment. He is continuing to improve and he remains stable at present.”
Beaumont Hospital in Dublin is the country’s expert centre for treating head injuries. Trooper Kearney, who is from the Co Cork village of Killeagh, suffered a fractured skull in the attack last week.
He is understood to have received his injuries when the white United Nations-marked armoured utility vehicle, containing him, Pte Rooney, 23, and two other soldiers was shot at by an armed mob. The private will be laid to rest tomorrow “with full military honours”, the Defence Forces confirmed earlier this week.
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