The Army is to hold a court of inquiry into the death of an Irish soldier on a private parachuting course in the Netherlands in an attempt to establish the exact circumstances of his death, an Army source revealed yesterday.
An investigation has already been launched in Holland into the death of Pte Shane O'Neill (24), from Cork, and evidence taken in that inquiry may be subpoenaed for the Army investigation, which is in line with standard procedure in the Defence Forces.
Pte O'Neill, from Mount Nebo Avenue, Gurranabraher, was buried yesterday morning with full military honours at St Catherine's Cemetery, Kilcully, following Requiem Mass at the Church of the Ascension, Gurranabraher.
Army comrades joined his father, Eugene, brother Finbarr and sisters Regina, Teresa, Jacinta and Lucy, while the President, Mrs McAleese, was represented by her aide, Comdt Dermot O'Connor.
Pte O'Neill died last Monday while doing his first jump on a week-long civilian parachute training course at Texel. The owner of the training centre, Mr Bob Rienks, travelled from Holland for the funeral.