Latest news with #AlAqbiya
BreakingNews.ie
16 hours ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Killers of Irish peacekeeper have escaped justice for too long
It is 'unsatisfactory' that the main person convicted for the killing of an Irish peacekeeper in 2022 is still at large, the Taoiseach has said. Micheál Martin was speaking after a man was given a death sentence in Lebanon over Private Seén Rooney's death. Advertisement Rooney, 24, from Newtowncunningham in Co Donegal, was killed when a convoy of Irish troops serving with a UN peacekeeping force was ambushed and fired upon on December 14th 2022. The shooting happened near the town of Al-Aqbiya in the south of Lebanon, a stronghold of Hezbollah. Pte Rooney, from the 121 Infantry Battalion of the Defence Forces, was killed. In March, Tánaiste Simon Harris said he pressed the case during meetings in Beirut with the Lebanese ministers for foreign affairs and defence. Advertisement On Monday, the Government was informed of the completion of a military tribunal in Beirut for those indicted for the murder of Pte Rooney. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said a number of people had been convicted in relation to his murder but some of the sentences were 'unduly lenient'. 'The main culprit was at large and that is very, very regrettable,' he said ahead of Cabinet. 'The delay that it has taken to have justice has been far too long and I must say that some of the sentences are unduly lenient as well in respect of others. Advertisement 'Peacekeeping is a very noble cause and Private Sean Rooney gave his life to the cause of peacekeeping and to protect others. 'I've said repeatedly to the Lebanese authorities that the nobility of the role of the peacekeeper must always be reflected in terms of bringing those who are responsible for this murder to justice and we will continue to make that point.' The Taoiseach said death sentences in Lebanon had not been applied for 'quite some time' and the expectation is that it will be commuted. 'Overall, those responsible had escaped, if you like, justice for far too long. Many are at large for quite some time and the main individual now is at large as well and that is very unsatisfactory.' Advertisement He added: 'The court has made its decision, we can't interfere in the operation of the court itself. But I think the whole process certainly left a lot to be desired.'
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Seán Rooney: Defendants ‘convicted in Beirut' of killing of Irish peacekeeper in 2022
Defendants 'have been convicted' in Beirut of the killing of an Irish peacekeeper in 2022, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has said. Seán Rooney (24), from Newtowncunningham in Co Donegal, was killed when a convoy of Irish troops serving with a UN peacekeeping force was ambushed and fired upon on December 14th, 2022. Advertisement The shooting happened near the town of Al-Aqbiya in the south of Lebanon, a stronghold of Hezbollah. Pte Rooney, from the 121 Infantry Battalion of the Defence Forces, was killed. The Military Tribunal in Beirut for those indicted for the murder of Private Sean Rooney has concluded. This is an incredibly difficult day for the family of Private Rooney. None of us can fathom their unimaginable pain & grief and all my thoughts remain with them at this time — Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) July 28, 2025 On Monday, Simon Harris said he had been informed of the completion of a military tribunal in Beirut for those indicted for the murder of Pte Rooney. 'I welcome the conviction of the main defendant and a number of the other defendants, who had not previously been in court,' he said. Advertisement 'While noting the sentence handed down to the main defendant, I am disappointed and share the disappointment of Pte Rooney's family at the lighter sentences imposed on a number of those convicted today. 'Seán Rooney made the ultimate sacrifice in the noble pursuit of peace. This is a difficult time for his family and his colleagues, especially those who were injured that night. All our thoughts are with them at this time.' The Tánaiste said he pressed the case during his visit to Beirut in March during meetings with the Lebanese Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Defence. Tánaiste Simon Harris meets troops during his visit to Camp Shamrock in Lebanon in March. Photo: Niall Carson/PA 'I raised, in the strongest terms, my deep frustration at the slow pace of proceedings before the Lebanese Military Tribunal concerning those charged with Pte Rooney's killing,' he said. Advertisement 'I appreciate, therefore, the efforts of the court to bring forward the hearing date from September to today. Ireland Mother of Irish soldier Sean Rooney gets permissio... Read More 'During my visit to Beirut, I left the Lebanese ministers in no doubt as to the absolute determination of the Irish Government to ensure that those responsible for Private Rooney's death are brought to justice. 'I want to express my appreciation to my officials, members of the Defence Forces, Ireland's Ambassador to Lebanon, Ireland's Honorary Consul to Lebanon, and the Department's Lebanese lawyer, all of whom attended today's hearing along with a member of Sean's family.' He added: 'Finally, I appreciate that this is an incredibly difficult day for the family of Private Rooney. None of us can fathom their unimaginable pain and grief and all my thoughts remain with them at this time.' Advertisement
Irish Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Man sentenced to death in his absence over killing of Pte Seán Rooney in Lebanon
A military tribunal in Lebanon has sentenced to death a man accused of killing Irish soldier Seán Rooney, according to Lebanese news reports. A United Nations peacekeeping force was targeted in an attack on their UN vehicle in the village of at Al-Aqbiya, Lebanon, in December 2022. Private Rooney and a number of his colleagues were injured in the attack. Pte Rooney later died. The men were part of a convoy travelling to Beirut Airport. A military tribunal in the Lebanese capital of Beirut sentenced the main defendant in the case, Mohammad Ayyad, to death, according to local reports. READ MORE Other defendants, who were not previously before the court, have received sentences of a lesser nature. It is understood Lebanon has not carried out an execution in about 20 years. The main defendant was released on bail some time ago and was not in court on Monday when the sentence was decided. As well as being sentenced to death, Ayyad was fined 100 million Lebanese pounds (€960). Another defendant was sentenced to three months in prison and the same fine, another to one month and the same fine. Three others were fined 200 million Lebanese pounds each. Another defendant was acquitted. Micheál Martin , who has previously said the Government believed the Hizbullah militia was primarily responsible for Pte Rooney's death, welcomed the conviction of the main defendant. But the Taoiseach said it was 'unsatisfactory' that the man 'is still at large' and said 'many will feel the sentences passed down on the other defendants are far too lenient'. He said the delay in progressing the case was 'deeply regrettable'. 'Peacekeeping is the most noble cause of all, and the role of the peacekeeper must at all times be honoured and respected. This is a very difficult day for the family of Seán Rooney, in particular his mother Natasha,' he said. 'Seán was a soldier of great courage who put the safety of others before his own safety in the line of duty. He was brave and diligent.' Mr Martin said his thoughts and prayers were with Pte Rooney's mother, family, friends and colleagues. Minister for Defence Simon Harris welcomed the conviction of the main defendant and a number of the other defendants who had not previously been in court. 'While noting the sentence handed down to the main defendant, I am disappointed and share the disappointment of Pte Rooney's family at the lighter sentences imposed on a number of those convicted today.' Pte Rooney had made the ultimate sacrifice in the noble pursuit of peace, he said. 'This is a difficult time for his family and his colleagues, especially those who were injured that night. All our thoughts are with them at this time,' the Tánaiste said. Mr Harris said he wanted to express his appreciation to his officials, Ireland's Ambassador to Lebanon, members of the Defence Forces, Ireland's Honorary Consul to Lebanon and the Department's Lebanese lawyer, all of whom attended Monday's hearing along with a member of Pte Rooney's family. Lebanese reports said the tribunal's president, Brigadier General Wassim Fayyad, said: 'Hearts beat for the continued presence of the peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, given the humanitarian, social, and even cultural work they are doing.'
The Independent
03-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Irish premier welcomes that mother of peacekeeper killed in Lebanon can sue UN
Irish premier Micheal Martin has welcomed that the mother of an Irish peacekeeper killed in Lebanon has been given permission to sue the UN. Sean Rooney, 24, from Newtowncunningham in Co Donegal, was killed when a convoy of Irish troops serving with a UN peacekeeping force was ambushed and fired upon on December 14 2022. The shooting happened near the town of Al-Aqbiya in the south of Lebanon, a stronghold of Hezbollah. Pte Rooney, from the 121 Infantry Battalion of the Defence Forces, was killed. On Tuesday, his mother Natasha was granted permission by the High Court in Dublin to sue the UN. Asked about the granting of permission to sue the UN, the Taoiseach welcomed developments. 'Natasha Rooney has gone through a terrible trauma in respect of the murder of her son Sean and we await the outcome of the trial in Lebanon,' Mr Martin said. 'We have been very unhappy at the pace in which that trial has taken place, it's been slow, and we're looking for full accountability. 'We believe Hezbollah was primarily responsible for the death of Sean, but of course full accountability and full transparency is owed to the Rooney family, so I welcome developments.' Natasha Rooney said in a statement that she intends to use all legal avenues available to her to hold those responsible for her son's death to account. 'Sean's case has never been about compensation or money – it is about the truth and accountability,' she said. 'Sean was failed by those who should have protected him. Despite numerous requests, I have still not been provided with the very basic documents from the United Nations from their investigations. 'I intend on using every court procedure available to me to ensure that the truth is told about Sean's death, and that those who failed him are held accountable for their actions and omissions.' Solicitor for Ms Rooney Darragh Mackin said: 'Our client has been failed time and time again by the very institutions that ought to have protected her son. 'We make no apologies for pursuing every available legal avenue to seek the truth and justice for Private Sean Rooney.' Pte Rooney's family has pressed the UN to make crucial reports linked to the soldier's death available to his inquest, being conducted by the Dublin District Senior Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane. The court heard that the UN had carried out reports which had not yet been made available to the inquest. These include an investigation carried out on the ground as well as a subsequent UN board of inquiry report. The hearing was told there had also been a report 10 months prior to the incident that raised concerns about the integrity of the UN vehicles involved. However, they were originally told there were issues around disclosing these reports.
BreakingNews.ie
03-06-2025
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Taoiseach welcomes that mother of peacekeeper killed in Lebanon can sue UN
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has welcomed that the mother of an Irish peacekeeper killed in Lebanon has been given permission to sue the UN. Sean Rooney, 24, from Newtowncunningham in Co Donegal, was killed when a convoy of Irish troops serving with a UN peacekeeping force was ambushed and fired upon on December 14th, 2022. Advertisement The shooting happened near the town of Al-Aqbiya in the south of Lebanon, a stronghold of Hezbollah. Pte Rooney, from the 121 Infantry Battalion of the Defence Forces, was killed. The burial service for Private Sean Rooney at All Saints Catholic Church, Colehill, Co Donegal in December 2022 (Liam McBurney/PA) On Tuesday, his mother Natasha was granted permission by the High Court in Dublin to sue the UN. Asked about the granting of permission to sue the UN, the Taoiseach welcomed developments. Advertisement 'Natasha Rooney has gone through a terrible trauma in respect of the murder of her son Sean and we await the outcome of the trial in Lebanon,' Mr Martin said. 'We have been very unhappy at the pace in which that trial has taken place, it's been slow, and we're looking for full accountability. 'We believe Hezbollah was primarily responsible for the death of Sean, but of course full accountability and full transparency is owed to the Rooney family, so I welcome developments.' Pte Rooney's family has pressed the UN to make crucial reports linked to the soldier's death available to his inquest, being conducted by the Dublin District Senior Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane. Advertisement The court heard that the UN had carried out reports which had not yet been made available to the inquest. These include an investigation carried out on the ground as well as a subsequent UN board of inquiry report. The hearing was told there had also been a report 10 months prior to the incident that raised concerns about the integrity of the UN vehicles involved. However, they were originally told there were issues around disclosing these reports.
