Taoiseach outlines concerns as Private Seán Rooney suspect due in Lebanon court

With the main suspect in the killing of Private Seán Rooney in Lebanon is due back in court next week, the Taoiseach has outlined concerns over the case to Lebanese officials.

Mohammad Ayyad, the only person yet to be charged in relation to the death of the 23-year-old soldier, is due before a military tribunal on June 7.

Taoiseach Simon Harris spoke with the Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati and raised the killing of Private Rooney, as well as the serious injuries inflicted on fellow peacekeeper Trooper Shane Kearney, in December 2022.

The Taoiseach said there were serious concerns in Ireland with delays to date in the main suspect in the murder appearing in court.

Ayyad failed to appear at a hearing at the military tribunal in December citing medical reasons. The court accepted the medical report and postponed the hearing until June 2024.

Ayyad's defence lawyer, Mohammed Hamoud, presented a medical report stating that his client was “in the hospital receiving treatment," and the court accepted the submission.

Previously, Ayyad appeared before five judges in August at a military court hearing in Beirut and admitted to firing a gun during the attack.

However, Ayyad denied involvement in Hezbollah, a militant group that dominates the area around Al-Aqbiya.

Four other men - Ali Khalifeh, Ali Salman, Hussein Salman, and Mustafa Salman - remain at large.

Private Rooney was driving an armoured jeep when a UN peacekeeping convoy in which he was travelling came under attack in the south Lebanon town of Al-Aqbiya on December 14, 2022.

The Taoiseach expressed frustration at suspects remaining at large and said he hoped a scheduled court hearing would proceed and that justice being done was essential for the families as well as all peacekeepers in the region.

An investigation by An Garda Siochana into the death of Private Rooney has been completed and a file has been submitted to the Dublin City coroner. A date has not yet been listed for an inquest.

The Department of Defence said: “A number of investigations and reviews have been undertaken.

“These include investigations by the UN and An Garda Síochána (on behalf of the Dublin coroner). The Defence Forces have assisted with both of these investigations.

“In addition, the matter has been the subject of a criminal investigation in Lebanon and the matter is now before the Lebanese judicial system.”

Private Rooney, a Dundalk native who had lived in Newtowncunningham for the past decade, became the 48th Irish soldier to die while on a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. He was due to wed his fiancé Holly McConnellogue in 2023.

Private Rooney was laid to rest in Newtowncunningham with full military honours.