The United Nations (UN) has been urged to co-operate with an inquest into the death of Pte Seán Rooney in Lebanon after a coroner designated the international body an “interested person” in the case.
Pte Rooney (24), from Dundalk, Co Louth, was killed in an attack on a convoy of Irish peacekeepers in Al-Aqbiya in December 2022. His death was the first of a Defence Forces member in combat in 23 years.
Dublin Coroner’s Court on Tuesday heard the UN has carried out “substantial” and “significant” investigations into the events surrounding the killing of Pte Rooney but the international body considers the reports “confidential”. Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said there had been certain restrictions on disclosure of these reports from the UN in the case.
Darragh Mackin, solicitor for the Rooney family, said “the elephant in the room” was that the UN had held investigations into Pte Rooney’s death and these were not only important to the inquest, but also to the Rooney family. “[The UN] must co-operate with this investigation,” he said. “Full and frank disclosure must not be a request, it must be a right.”
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Mr Mackin said given the UN was founded on principles of international co-operation, it should “do as they say” in this case.
Dr Cullinane designated the UN an “interested person” in the case given that Pte Rooney was killed while carrying out peacekeeping duties in a Unifil area in Lebanon. At an inquest, interested persons can ask questions of witnesses and make representations.
The inquest heard two investigations into Pte Rooney’s death have been carried out for the UN – one “on the ground” by Italian and Tanzanian officials and one by a UN board of inquiry in New York.
Remy Farrell SC, for the Department of Defence and Defence Forces, said Pte Rooney’s family had been given sight of a redacted version of the former and had not been given access the latter. He stressed these restrictions were put in place by the UN and not the Minister for Defence.
Mr Farrell said the UN had in recent correspondence questioned the Department of Defence as to how public access to the reports on Pte Rooney’s death might be restricted given they were “considered confidential”.
Mr Mackin said his clients wanted to dispel “the noxious narrative” that Pte Rooney “took a wrong turn” while driving a UN vehicle in the lead up to the attack. He also noted concerns were previously raised about the type of UN vehicles that Pte Rooney was travelling in at the time.
He said his clients wanted answers as to why a 24-year-old soldier ended up 13 to 16km away from the UN convoy he and other soldiers had been travelling in when they came under attack, and why he was without a UN driving licence.
Mr Mackin described Pte Rooney as a “courageous soldier” and “hero” not only to his family and the soldiers he saved during the course of the attack, but to Ireland. He said he was a much-loved son and a future husband. He said the soldier is owed a thorough investigation into the events surrounding his death.
Dr Cullinane she said wanted to echo Mr Mackin’s “eloquent remarks” and noted the fact the Rooney family had lost their “wonderful son” was at the centre of the process. Natasha McCloskey, Pte Rooney’s mother, was present in court. Mr Farrell, on behalf of the Defence Forces and the Minister for Defence, and Dr Cullinane expressed their condolences to her.
Dr Cullinane asked Mr Farrell for assistance in making contact with the UN for the purposes of conducting the inquest. She adjourned the hearing to September 20th.
In Lebanon, the prosecution of the main suspect for his murder has seen significant delays, an issue raised by Taoiseach Simon Harris with the Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati in May. Muhammad Ayyad has been charged with multiple offences relating to the attack in which Pte Rooney was killed, but he failed to attend a hearing at the military tribunal in Lebanon in December, citing medical reasons.
Gardaí completed an initial investigation into the death earlier this summer, clearing the way for the inquest to commence.
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