Defence Minister to discuss Private Sean Rooney in Lebanon visit

The death of Private Sean Rooney, an Irish soldier from Newtowncunningham, will be raised by Defence Minister Helen McEntee when she travels to Lebanon.

Minister McEntee will travel to Lebanon for discussions, including matters regarding the death of 24-year-old Pte Rooney, whose inquest is due to begin next month.

Pte Rooney, a Dundalk native who had lived in Donegal for a decade, was killed in an attack on a convoy of Irish Peacekeepers serving on a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) whilst on deployment on December 14, 2022.

He was later laid to rest in Newtowncunningham with full military honours.

A Lebanese court convicted the main defendant, Mohammad Ayyad, and sentenced him to death in July 2025, but he remains at large and was not in court when the sentence was passed.

Ayyad was convicted by a Military Tribunal in Beirut while two others were sentenced to two months and three months. Two others were fined, and one was acquitted.

Minister McEntee said in advance of her Lebanese visit: “Ireland's peacekeepers have made an extraordinary contribution to peace and stability in Lebanon over almost five decades.

“I look forward to meeting our personnel on the ground, to thank them for their service, and to see first-hand the important work they continue to undertake in support of the United Nations mission.”

Regarding Pte Rooney, the Department of Defence stated: “The Minister will also discuss matters relating to the death of Private Seán Rooney, reiterating Ireland’s commitment to ensuring accountability and justice.”