Soldier's body home today

The body of Pte Billy Kedian, the soldier who was killed in Lebanon this week, will be flown home today to Knock Airport

The body of Pte Billy Kedian, the soldier who was killed in Lebanon this week, will be flown home today to Knock Airport. Pte Kedian (21), who was from Ballyhau nis, Co Mayo, was hit on Monday by mortar fire from the Israeli-backed South Lebanese Army near Brashit. The body will be flown by an Air Corps patrol aircraft, arriving at Knock just after 3 p.m., to be removed to Donnelan's Funeral Home in Ballyhaunis at 7 p.m. and then to St Patrick's Church at 8.30 pm. The funeral Mass will be at noon tomorrow, followed by burial at Bally haunis cemetery. An Irish medical team flew from Baldonnel Airport, Dublin, to Israel last night in the Government jet to make a medical assessment and report back to the Defence Forces and the next-of-kin on the condition of Pte Ronnie Rushe (23), who was seriously injured in the attack. An Army spokesman said the jet had been due to pick up the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, in Cologne today, but this had been "waived by Mr Ahern when he heard the medical team was going to Israel".