Private Ronnie Rushe, who was seriously injured in a mortar attack in South Lebanon last May while serving with UNIFIL peace forces, was flown to Dublin yesterday by a specially chartered air ambulance jet.
He was then transferred to St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, where he will undergo further medical treatment for his chest wounds.
Pte Rushe (23), of Boggadh, Co Offaly, was met on arrival by his partner, Ms Lisa Molloy, his daughter Michaela (2), brothers and sisters, relations and friends. On hand were the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, the Chief of Staff, Lt Gen David Stapleton and Brig Gen John Martin, O/C Western Command.
Though still very weak, he slowly walked the short journey from the plane to the airport terminal. He was overjoyed when he met his daughter. He was brought to St Vincent's by Commdt Charles O'Malley, a Defence Forces medical officer.
An Army spokesman said Pte Rushe had made enough progress to make the journey, but he still had some way to go before he was fully recovered.
After the attack, the Army flew five members of his family to his bedside. His father and partner remained there for the last two months and only returned on Saturday.
"He was looking forward to coming home," an Army spokesman said. "He was particularly looking forward to seeing his little daughter again. It was last April when he last saw her, when the 85th Battalion left for its sixmonths tour of duty."
Pte Rushe, who had been in a coma for 10 days after the attack, was presented with the UNIFIL peacekeeping medal last Friday in hospital by the Deputy Force Leader of UNIFIL, Brig Gen Jim Sreenan.
Pte Billy Kedian (21), Station Road, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, died in the mortar attack. Also hit in the blast was Pte Darren Clarke, Swinford, Co Mayo, who received superficial injuries.
Pte Rushe was taken first to the United Nations hospital in Naqoura and from there to the Israeli hospital of Rambam in Haifa. His injuries initially were described as critical.
An Irish medical team, led by senior consultant Mr Oscar Traynor, flew to Israel on June 3rd on the Government jet to make a medical assessment and report back to the Defence Forces and the family on his condition.
The death and injuries were caused when two shells from the Israeli-backed South Lebanese Army landed on the perimeter of the UN post, manned by 17 Irish soldiers, all from the 85th Infantry Battalion based in Galway.
The nine-nation UNIFIL has lost 227 peacekeepers since its deployment along the edge of the Israeli-occupied border zone in Southern Lebanon in 1978.
The Israeli ambassador to Ireland, Mr Zvi Gabay, expressed his country's deep regret at the death of Pte Kedian and wished a speedy recovery for the injured soldiers.
The Irish Battalion commander, Lieut Col Pat Nash, said after the attack: "I am extremely concerned, I would say very perturbed at the trend that has been happening here over the last number of months. This is the fourth attack that Irish positions have had here."