IRELAND: The body of Irish UN peacekeeper Private Seán Rooney has arrived

editor December 19, 2022 0

Dublin: The body of Irish UN peacekeeper Private Seán Rooney arrived at Casement Aerodrome in Ballydonnell on an Air Corps flight overnight from Beirut International Airport. Several of Rooney's colleagues from the 121 Infantry Battalion were on board, including his company commander, Commandant Brian Connolly.

Private Seán Rooney, 24, was killed last week in an attack on the armored vehicle he was riding in a coastal village in southern Lebanon. Private Seán Rooney was killed while on duty as a UN peacekeeper.

His body arrived in Ireland yesterday after a UN ceremony at the airport. Private Seán Rooney's colleague, Trooper Shane Kearney, 23, suffered blunt force trauma to the head in the attack.

Rooney's mother Natasha, fiancee Holly McConlogh and grandfather Eugene were on hand when the plane landed to see and his body draped in the Irish tricolor flag. The Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs and Defense Minister Michael Martin and Defense Force Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Sean Clancy were also present at the airport this morning.

Private Seán Rooney's remains were escorted by gardaí after a short prayer service with his family in Baldonnell. Rooney's funeral is expected to take place later this week, pending a post-mortem examination.

Private Seán Rooney is now on the way home.

Your duty is done a chara, you have earned your rest. https://t.co/nyIozrS4VD
— Óglaigh na hÉireann (@defenceforces) December 18, 2022