An Irish soldier killed in a road accident in Liberia last week will receive a full military burial tomorrow morning. The remains of Sgt Derek Mooney (33), from Blackrock, Co Dublin, were flown into Baldonnell aerodrome yesterday.
Sgt Mooney was on a patrol in the west African country on Thursday when the jeep in which he was travelling left the road 40km south-east of Monrovia. He died later during surgery.
Sgt Mooney's colleague, Sgt Seán Baldwin, is still critical but stable following surgery. A third colleague received minor injuries. A joint UN and Army investigation is under way.
Sgt Mooney was part of the Army's elite Ranger wing, and was based in the Curragh, Co Kildare. He was part of an advance party sent to Liberia just weeks ago to set up base. Some 400 Irish soldiers are due to take up duty in Liberia before Christmas.
The last Irish Army soldier killed abroad was Pte Peadar Ó'Flaithearta (21), who was accidentally shot in East Timor in April 2002.
More recently, a Dublin man serving in the British army was killed in Iraq in April. Lance Cpl Ian Malone (28) was from Ballyfermot, Dublin, and was a member of the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards.
The President, Mrs McAleese, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern and the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith have all expressed condolences to Sgt Mooney's parents, his fiancée and his family.
Sgt Mooney's remains will be brought to St John the Baptist Church, Blackrock, at 7. 30 p.m. this evening. The burial will be held in Shanganagh cemetery after 10 a.m. Mass tomorrow.
