Lebanese authorities have now formally charged seven suspects over the murder of Private Seán Rooney, it emerged today.
Reports in several Lebanese media outlets said the men were all charged with taking part in the attack – and that they included the alleged gunman.
The reports also said three of the men were in custody – but four others were on the run.
The reports said the alleged gunman is in custody after he was one of three men handed over by Hezbollah to Lebanese military investigators two weeks after the murder of the 24-year-old private Rooney in the southern Lebanese village of Al-Aqibiya.
It’s understood the suspect is also accused of attempting to murder Private Rooney’s three colleagues who were with him in the armoured vehicle he was driving when it was attacked.
Among the three was Shane Kearney, from Killeagh in Co Cork, who suffered serious head injuries when the car crashed and overturned when Private Rooney was killed.
READ MORE: Sean Rooney hailed 'national hero' as heartbroken mum tells funeral of her pride for son
Cavalry Trooper Kearney (22) was flown home by air ambulance shortly before Christmas and is being treated at Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital – the country’s experts site for the treatment of head injuries.
Lebanese media today said that military judge Fadi Akiki had charged the alleged killer of Private Roney with murder – as well as the attempted murder of the three other soldiers.
Sources in UNIFIL, the United Nations missions that Private Rooney was serving with, confirmed to The Mirror that they were aware of the reports – but were waiting on confirmation from the Lebanese army.
Private Rooney, who was part of a joint Irish-Polish peacekeeping unit in the south of the country, was shot dead in the village of Al-Aqbiya on December 14 – as he drove three colleagues away from a baying mob.
The attack began when the jeep Private Rooney was driving was heading to Beirut International Airport with another Irish UN vehicle to drop two soldiers off for a flight back home.
It’s understood the jeeps got separated and Private Rooney, a specialist driver, was trying to re-join the second car when his jeep was surrounded by an angry mob.
He sped away, but the car was shot at by at least two gunmen
At least one of the bullets hit him in the head and the car crashed – which resulted in Trooper Kearney suffering a fractured skull. The two other soldiers escaped with less serious injuries.
Up to 27 shots were fired at the car, sources in Lebanon say. Military police and Garda investigators are now in southern Lebanon and are understood to have already interviewed two Irish soldiers who were not seriously injured in the attack.
But Lebanon is mounting its own investigation and is holding the three suspects – and now there are reports they have been charged, along with four other men not in custody.
Reports say the accused killer lived in the area and added that investigators have also seized an AK-47 assault rifle believed to have been used in the attack.
The suspected murderer of Private Rooney was among three men handed over to the Lebanese authorities by Hezbollah, the biggest and most powerful armed group in southern Lebanon.
The group denies involvement in the killing, but it is believed the suspects were all supporters of the organisation.
We revealed last month that the men involved in the attack could be sentenced to death if convicted.
Anyone convicted of murder, espionage, treason, terrorism, or collaborating with Israeli forces could be put to death - although no one has been executed since 2004.
The remains of Private Rooney were returned to his family after being repatriated from Lebanon on Monday, December 19, before he was laid to rest in his native County Donegal, on the following Thursday.
Mourners at Holy Family Church in Dundalk, Co Louth where his funeral mass took place including President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste Micheal Martin and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, heard Pte Rooney described as a "national hero".
A Defence Forces spokeswoman said they had no comment at this time.
