Garda detectives will be called in to investigate the death of a soldier in southern Lebanon, following sharp criticism of the original military inquiry.
Pte Kevin Barrett died in 1999 from a single gunshot wound to the head while serving with the Unifil mission in south Lebanon, while two colleagues were in his room.
An independent inquiry carried out by the Defence Forces' military police did not amount to "an effective investigation", senior counsel Seán D Hurley said in a report to Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea
Military investigations into the deaths on duty of soldiers have been improved significantly since the inquiry into the death in southern Lebanon in 1999 of Pte Kevin Barrett.
Speaking in Haulbowline yesterday, Mr O'Dea said the Defence Forces have already made changes to their internal inquiry rules ever before the Hurley report was received.
The files are now to be investigated by senior Garda detectives, following communication yesterday between Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy and senior Defence Force officers. Soldiers transferred the documents yesterday to the Department of Defence headquarters in Parkgate Street, Dublin, from the military archives in Glasnevin.
Mr O'Dea said the investigation into the death of the 20-year-old private from Donegal had identified failures and shortcomings in the way the matter was handled.
The report says the military police investigation into his death is still not complete, and does not constitute an effective investigation.
It recommends a detailed review of the shooting.
However, Mr O'Dea says improvements have been made since then in the way investigations are conducted.
"The procedures in place at the time for conducting an investigation into an event such as this were fairly defective.
"Since then the Army has recognised that and have upgraded their procedures. Mr Hurley in his report reckons there is room for further improvements, so I am going to ensure that those further improvements are put in place immediately."
The Minister also expressed an interest in meeting the Barrett family following the publication of yesterday's report, before adding that he would do everything in his power to assist in the case.
"As regards military courts of inquiry and the other options suggested by Mr Hurley in his report, I would prefer to meet the family before I make a final decision on those," said Mr O'Dea.
The Permanent Defence Forces' Other Ranks Representative Association said the military had a tradition of dealing sensitively with the families of those killed on overseas duty.
"I have to say by and large that the military look after the families very well, but they would be limited about what they can say in some cases where investigations are still continuing," said PDFORRA official, Simon Devereux.