A 21-year-old soldier, who died in a shooting incident in Lebanon, has been named as Pte Kevin Barrett, from Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
The Army is treating the incident as "an accidental shooting with no other person involved", according to a Defence Forces statement. The battalion's military police are carrying out an inquiry into Pte Barrett's death, which happened at an observation post in the village of Bra Shit in south Lebanon.
The shooting occurred at 12.30 a.m. in the post's sleeping accommodation. Two other soldiers were sleeping in the room at the time of the shooting.
Pte Barrett died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head. He was declared dead by an Army doctor at the scene. An autopsy is due to be carried out in Tel Aviv.
The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, said he had learned with deep regret of Pte Barrett's death, and extended his condolences to his parents, three brothers and two sisters.