Soldiers Salute Slain Irish UN Peacekeeper in Beirut Before Final Journey to Ireland

Storyful
2 年前

Soldiers in Beirut, Lebanon, paid tribute to a slain Irish United Nations peacekeeper at a “solemn ceremony” on Sunday, December 18, before his body began its journey home to Ireland.

Pte Sean Rooney, 24, was killed "in Al-Aqbieh, just outside United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon’s (UNIFIL) area of operations in south Lebanon,” UNIFIL said early on December 15.

Three others were injured, including another Irish soldier, Pte Shane Kearney, age 22.

The Irish Times said the convoy that came under attack had been "bringing two soldiers to the airport so they could return to Ireland on compassionate leave due to bereavements.”

“The remaining four personnel from the convoy were not injured,” the Irish Defence Forces said.

Rooney’s remains arrived in Dublin on Monday morning.

Images released by the Irish Defence Forces shows veterans and active soldiers saluting the cortege bearing Rooney’s body on Sunday. Credit: Irish Defence Forces via Storyful