Irish soldier is accidently shot

AN Irish soldier serving with the UN in Lebanon was accidentally shot last Thursday while cleaning weaponry.

AN Irish soldier serving with the UN in Lebanon was accidentally shot last Thursday while cleaning weaponry.

Private Declan Breen (23) of Newbridge, Co Kildare was cleaning armoury with a fellow Irish soldier at the UN base in Tibnin, south Lebanon.

The gun, believed to be a Steyr rifle, went off and hit Private Breen in the upper body. No vital organs were hit.

The private was transferred to the UN hospital at Naqoura and subsequently brought to the Israeli hospital at Haifa.

READ MORE

Medical experts will decide whether Private Breen is fit enough to return to duty or should be sent back to Ireland.

He is attached to the Curragh and has been in Lebanon since October.