The mother of a young soldier who died with three others in a road accident in Lebanon has settled her High Court action for damages against the State.
Tina Murphy had claimed she heard the news on the radio and experienced an unsympathetic attitude from the Army following the death of her 21-year-old son, Jonathan, a private, during his first trip overseas.
She claimed her son was treated as a soldier first and as a son and brother second and that the Army gave her no warning about his being "grotesquely" disfigured when his body was brought home.
Mrs Murphy, Athy, Co Kildare, had sued the Minister for Defence, Ireland and the Attorney General for damages as a result of her son's death on June 14th, 2000.
Jonathan Murphy was in a jeep that was in a convoy at Jeyeh-Chouf District, Lebanon. He was on the way to the airport for a holiday in Cyprus. Three other Irish soldiers also died in the accident after their jeep skidded and overturned.
Outside court, Eamon Murphy said that four weeks after his son's death, his personal belongings were sent home, including the bloodstained runners Jonathan had been wearing at the time of the accident.
"We got no apology from the Army. Today does not bring any closure for us," he said.
Mr Justice Richard Johnson was told yesterday the case had been settled and could be struck out with costs to Ms Murphy.
The judge said it was a distressing case and he hoped there would be some closure now for the Murphy family.
In her proceedings, Ms Murphy claimed her son was killed violently and in tragic circumstances owing to the alleged negligence and breach of duty of the defendants in relation to the management, maintenance, care, control, selection, supply and driving of the jeep.
Because of the close personal relationship between her and her son, the tragic and sudden circumstances of his death and the manner in which it was communicated to her and handled by the Army, she had suffered great distress and personal injuries.
The family had hoped to go to the Lebanon to bring their son's body home but the Army said it was not possible.
The family were told Jonathan's funeral would be on the Wednesday after the accident but then they were told it was going to be Friday.
The defendants denied the claims.