Private Seán Rooney has been named by the Department of Defence as the soldier killed on active duty in Lebanon.
Private Rooney was killed yesterday while travelling to Beirut with colleagues.
He grew up in Newtowncunningham, County Donegal and was 23-years-old.
His colleague, Private Shane Kearney from Killeagh in County Cork, was seriously injured during the attack and is being treated in hospital.
It is with deep regret that Óglaigh na hÉireann can confirm the death of one of our peacekeepers in a serious incident in Lebanon last night.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
1/4 pic.twitter.com/YrnFOVBjkV— Óglaigh na hÉireann (@defenceforces) December 15, 2022
Speaking from Brussels, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said everyone in Government had been “deeply shocked” by the news.
“It is a reminder to us of the extraordinary sacrifices that our peacekeepers make on a constant basis,” he said.
“They operate in, at times, hostile and very difficult and dangerous environments and we should always be conscious of that.”
Main image: Private Seán Rooney. Picture by: The Rooney family.
