A soldier who had recently returned on leave from duty in South Lebanon died yesterday in Waterford General Hospital where he was being treated for an unidentified infection.
Private Michael Dowling (32), single, was a member of the 83 Irish Battalion stationed in South Lebanon, and had come home on leave on August 15th. The Defence Forces in a statement yesterday said Private Dowling visited his doctor in Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny, two weeks later on August 30th and was admitted to St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, with an acute infection. He was transferred to Waterford General Hospital on September 2nd.
The South Eastern Health Board also issued a statement yesterday. It said the cause of the patient's infection was not established. However, because diphtheria was a possibility, close contacts of the patient were screened for infection and treated with prophylactics antibiotics and vaccination.
"The screening of the contacts demonstrated that there was absolutely no evidence of diphtheria being carried into the community. Unfortunately, the patient developed respiratory failure secondary to his severe infection and died this morning . . . A coroner's inquest will be held." The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, said he had "learned with regret of the tragic death of Private Michael Dowling" and expressed his sympathy to Private Dowling's family, relatives and friends.
Private Dowling joined the Army in 1985 and was stationed in the 30 Battalion in Stephen's Barracks, Kilkenny.