Tánaiste Micheál Martin has called on the United Nations to release its report into the death of Pte Seán Rooney to his family.
Pte Rooney died two years ago today when his convoy was ambushed near the town of Al-Aqbiya in the south of Lebanon, a Hizbullah stronghold.
The 24-year-old from Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, was killed on December 14th, 2022, while driving an armoured jeep as part of Defence Forces Unifil peacekeeping duties.
The UN Board of Inquiry report on Pte Rooney’s death, which was concluded in April 2023, was shared with the Irish Government under strict criteria, including the UN’s insistence that it may not be shared with third parties or made public in any form, either in whole or in part, and the final report will not be published.
Kyran Durnin case: Man with history of violence now suspect in murder investigation
The ‘Hawk Tuah girl’ went viral. You won’t believe what happened next – except, of course, you will
Pat Leahy: Smart people still insist the truth of a patent absurdity – that Gerry Adams was never in the IRA
Fall of the house of Assad: a dynasty built on the banality of evil
A request for the report was also made by Dublin coroner Myra Cullinane. She said in October that a request in August for information from the UN did not elicit a response. She is investigating the death.
“The Government and I will continue to press the UN via diplomatic channels regarding the release of the UN reports to the family. Since the events of December 2022, I have consistently expressed both my and the Government’s determination that all of the facts and circumstances of the incident are fully established. No stone should be left unturned to ensure those responsible are brought to justice,” said Mr Martin.
“I know that the uncertainty surrounding the progress of the various investigations into the incident is very difficult and compounds the grief of Seán’s family ... At every opportunity, I have stressed my unhappiness with the slow progress of the trial of those accused of Seán’s murder and I have made that very clear to both Lebanese authorities and to the UN.”
He also urged the UN to co-operate with Dr Cullinane’s inquest into Pte Rooney’s death.
[ Pte Seán Rooney was a ‘selfless’ soldier who was due to marry next yearOpens in new window ]
A spokesperson for UN secretary general António Guterres told RTÉ News that it will share more information with the family of Pte Rooney about the circumstances of his death, but it did not specify what data it would share.
Pte Rooney’s family solicitor, Darragh Mackin, said they did not have an “iota of information” on what details are contained in the UN investigation.
“I would be disappointed if the full report is not released to the family,” said Mr Mackin on RTÉ. “The UN is no different than any other public body or international body. Their obligation is to provide all the information to the coroner. They can raise legitimate concerns, for example, national security or methodology. All relevant material should be provided to the coroner.”
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis