A young Irish soldier killed in East Timor yesterday died after being shot in the head in what the Army is describing as a "tragic accident".
An investigation has been ordered into the incident in which peacekeeper Private Peadar Ó Flaithearta (21) from Trabane, Lettermore, Co. Galway, was fatally wounded.
Private Ó Flaithearta received a gunshot wound to the head after a fellow soldier accidentally discharged his weapon as their platoon patrolled a mountainous jungle area along the border with West Timor.
The incident happened at 6.30 p.m. Timorese time (10.30 a.m. Irish time) during a three-day patrol of the Fataluro region around the Irish base near the village of Taromon.
It is not clear how the weapon which killed Private Ó Flaithearta came to be fired. An Army spokesman, Capt Paul Connors, said the platoon had not encountered any hostilities and was not under attack at the time.
They did, however, have their weapons at the ready as is normal practice on operations in the region, where militia from West Timor have carried out armed raids and attacks on East Timorese villages.
Capt Connors said the circumstances of the incident would be fully investigated, a move welcomed by the defence forces representative body, PDFORRA, which was among many groups and individuals to pay tribute to Private Ó Flaithearta and extend sympathies to his family and comrades.
The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, speaking on behalf of the Government, said he was "shocked and saddened" by Private Ó Flaithearta's death.
The President, Mrs McAleese, also expressed her condolences. "Private Ó Flaithearta undertook his peacekeeping duties with great commitment and dedication in very difficult circumstances," she said.
Private Ó Flaithearta was the son of Mr and Mrs Joseph and Maureen Ó Flaithearta and was one of a family of three sons and two daughters.
He was a member of the 1st Infantry Battalion based at Renmore, Galway, and began his tour of duty in East Timor in early February. He was due home next month.
Private Ó Flaithearta, who was single, joined the army in November 1999 and had already completed overseas service in Lebanon, where he served from October 2000 to May last year.
He was one of 42 Irish soldiers at Taroman, who make up the eighth Irish contingent to serve in East Timor since the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) was established in 1999 to protect the civilian population after the country declared independence from Indonesia.
A review of the UNTAET mandate was due following Sunday's first presidential elections in East Timor. Counting is under way and the province is due to declare itself a fully independent nation.
Irish peacekeepers have been helping to seal the border against incursions from Indonesian-backed militia from the west of the island during the tense transition period.