Minister for Defence Simon Coveney has described the death of an Irish soldier serving on peacekeeping duty in Lebanon as a "shocking and tragic incident" and passed on his "deepest condolences" to the family of the soldier.
A convoy of two armoured utility vehicles (AUVs) carrying eight personnel travelling to Beirut came under small arms fire on Wednesday night, and one Irish soldier was killed while two others sustained minor injuries. Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, Mr Coveney said this is a “shocking” incident and described it as the “worst possible news” that a family can hear.
He said: "My deepest condolences to his family and there’s a second family also listening carefully for news for their son who is in a very serious condition in hospital following the attack last night.
Read more: Irish soldier dies in Lebanon after convoy attacked
“This is a shocking and tragic incident and of course we have an investigation already underway but essentially what happened we think was that two armoured personnel vehicles were travelling from our main camp in UNIFIL to Beirut." Mr Coveney said the two armoured vehicles were travelling from "our main camp in southern Lebanon to Beirut", and that the vehicles became separated.
He said: "One got surrounded by a hostile mob, I think that’s the only way you could describe them, and shots were fired and unfortunately one of our peacekeepers was killed and another was very seriously injured and has already been operated on in hospital."
Mr Coveney said the families were informed last night, and that a full investigation has now begun. He said: "It’s just shocking and just before Christmas in particular in terms of the time of year but it’s shocking to ever lose somebody who is serving their country overseas to be effectively attacked by a mob which seems to be what happened and to be shot and killed."
Minister Coveney described the attack on the convoy as a "very serious" incident, and that there has not been a fatality in the Defence Forces on a peacekeeping mission for over two decades.
He said: "It would have been a very safe mission for the last two decades, so this was absolutely not expected, yes there has been some tension on the ground in recent months but nothing like this."
Mr Coveney is currently in New York for a meeting of the UN Security Council. He will meet with the UN Secretary General to “discuss the loss of our peacekeeper and the full investigation that must now follow”. He added that they will now focus on ensuring that Irish personnel are safe and supporting the families that have been impacted at home.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy told RTE Morning Ireland that it has been a “very dark night” for Óglaigh na hÉireann. He said: "It’s a tough night for the family of a soldier we have lost, it’s a tough night for Óglaigh na hÉireann, I think we face into something that none of us ever want to face in uniform service.
“This death deeply wounds the organisation as a whole; I think it’s fair to say that our whole beings are with the extended family of of Óglaigh na hÉireann. Those of the soldier in particular that has lost his life, in the service of the State, wearing the flag on a foreign state.
“All of Óglaigh na hÉireann are feeling this very deeply," he added.
Taoiseach Michael Martin expressed his and the government's "heartfelt sorrow" at hearing the news of the death of the Irish soldier in Lebanon and the injuries sustained by other soldiers. He said in a statement: "It is with a deep sense of sadness and shock that I have learned of the death of one of our UNIFIL peacekeepers, and serious injuries to another, in an incident in Lebanon.
"I want to express the heartfelt sorrow of the Government of Ireland at the loss of a young person serving overseas with the United Nations. In particular, I extend to his family our deepest sympathies for the terrible loss they have suffered."
The Taoiseach said that it is a reminder of how "our peacekeepers serve in dangerous circumstances, at all times, in the cause of peace." He added: "Our thoughts are with his colleagues, and to the wider Defence Forces family and all who serve overseas, we know how deeply you will feel this loss.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with you."
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