The President, Mrs Mary McAleese, attended the funeral of Pte Peadar Ó Flatharta in Lettermore Co Galway today.
Pte Ó Flatharta died in a shooting accident in East Timor last week.
The Taoiseach was represented by his aide-de-camp, Cpt Gerald Grady, and the Government was represented by the Minister of State, Mr Eamonn O’Cuiv. The Defences Forces was represented by Lieutenant-General Colm Mangan.
Pte Ó Flatharta, who began his tour of duty in East Timor on February 5th last, died while on a patrol of the area of Fataluro, three kilometres from the Irish base near Taroman. He is the 84th member of the Defence Forces to die overseas.