The first anniversary of Pte Seán Rooney’s death takes place this December, with a Mass to be celebrated at Church of the Holy Family Dundalk on Tuesday 12th December.
Private Rooney of the 27th Infantry Battalion was killed on peacekeeping duties in Lebanon on 14th December last year. The 24-year-old was born and raised in Dundalk, Co Louth but spent much of his later life in Newtowncunningham. He was buried with full military honours at the Church of All Saints cemetery.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has said he was “not at all happy” with the recent release of the sole suspect accused of killing Donegal/Dundalk soldier Sean Rooney.
Minister Martin said he was very disappointed with developments in Lebanon, where one of the individuals accused of the murder of Private Seán Rooney on 14 December last who had been in Lebanese custody had been released on bail.
Minister Martin said he was in the Middle East when the news broke, but met with Private Rooney‘s mother, Natasha, on Monday to update her on the progress of the investigations being carried out into her son’s killing.
“The family are my absolute priority in terms of ensuring that they are kept immediately informed of any updates received by the Department, including the very disappointing news this week. I am not at all happy with what has transpired.”
He said: “I assured her (Natasha McCloskey) of the Government’s continued determination to ensure that justice is done in holding to account those responsible for this heinous crime. This is a point I strongly made again recently to my Lebanese foreign and defence counterparts as well as at the United Nations when I met the Secretary General, António Guterres, earlier in the year. I met with the Lebanese foreign minister during UNGA week in September in respect of this matter.”
The case against this suspect and the other defendants is due to resume in Beirut on 15 December.
Minister Martin said that the Irish government’s legal representatives can observe what is going on in the courts but cannot intervene in the court case per se.
Sean’s First Anniversary Mass will be celebrated at 10.00 a.m. on Tuesday, 12th December, in the Church of the Holy Family, Hoeys Lane, Muirhevnamore, Dundalk, Co. Louth, A91 K761.
