Private Sean Rooney's mother given High Court permission to sue United Nations over ‘distress' after Lebanon killing
THE mother of a young Irish soldier killed in Lebanon has been given permission to sue the United Nations in the Irish courts.
His mum Natasha, from Newtown Cunningham, Co
She is suing for mental distress allegedly sustained by her and other members of the soldier's family as a result of his death.
Her counsel, Ray Motherway BL, told the High
On December 14, 2022, Pte Rooney was driving a UN-marked armoured SUV-type vehicle which was travelling as part of a two-vehicle convoy on an administrative run to Beirut
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Four soldiers were in each SUV.
The vehicle driven by Pte Rooney became separated from the other one and ended up in a town called Al-Aqbiyah where it came under gunfire.
Pte Rooney was tragically killed.
Central to the case against the UN is the allegation that their officials allegedly ordered soldiers at the Irish base to stand down from going to assist as they believed other peacekeepers may have been closer.
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In an affidavit to the High Court, grounding the application, solicitor Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law, said on December 14, 2022 Pte Rooney, who was on a UNIFIL deployment in Lebanon, was in a two-vehicle convoy.
The two vehicles became separated in or near Ai Aqbiyah, Lebanon and Private Rooney came under gunfire and he was shot and killed.
Sombre moment Private Sean Rooney's remains land in Ireland to be reunited with heartbroken family
According to the affidavit, investigations by the
As the United Nations has its main office and place of business in the
Mr Mackin said the United Nations is a proper party to the proceedings as it was involved in the operation of UNIFIL and Pte Rooney was killed in action on a UNIFIL peacekeeping mission.
APPROPRIATE JURISDICTION
He said Ireland was an appropriate jurisdiction to hear and determine the intended proceedings as the balance of the intended defendants have their main offices within the State and witnesses are likely to be resident in Ireland too.
He said it would also save on costs rather than have the dispute litigated in Lebanon or in the United States.
Mr Justice Paul Coffey accepted jurisdiction and granted permission to issue a plenary summons against the United Nations and serve it on the UN based in New York.
A copy of the personal injuries summons which will set out the allegations against all parties including the UN will now be served on the United Nations, which will have 42 days to enter an appearance in the case.
Taoiseach
'We have been very unhappy at the pace in which that trial has taken place, it's been slow, and we're looking for full accountability."
1
Sean Rooney was killed while on UN duty in December 2022
Credit: PA
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