An Irishman wounded in a gun battle in Iraq in which 22 of his 28 companions were killed is expected to return to Ireland this week for treatment to a number of injuries suffered in the attack.
Pádraig O'Keeffe (35) from Cobh, Co Cork, was working as a security expert with a private British company, Hart Group, when his convoy was attacked by a group of insurgents outside Baghdad on Tuesday.
Mr O'Keeffe, who had five years' experience serving with the French Foreign Legion in Africa and elsewhere, suffered a bullet wound to the thigh, a shrapnel wound to the jaw and a perforated ear drum in the attack.
Yesterday his father, Denis, told The Irish Times of his and wife Eileen's shock and relief at the news that their son had been wounded but had survived the bloody ambush which claimed the lives of his companions.
Mr O'Keeffe was brought to hospital in Baghdad and treated there.
He was due to leave Baghdad for Basra yesterday and from there go to Kuwait and could be back in Cork tomorrow evening, his father said Mr O'Keeffe.