Man sentenced to death in his absence over killing of Pte Seán Rooney in Lebanon
Lebanon
has sentenced to death a man accused of killing Irish soldier Seán Rooney, according to Lebanese news reports.
A
United Nations
peacekeeping force was targeted in an attack on their UN vehicle in the village of at Al-Aqbiya, Lebanon, in December 2022.
Private Rooney and a number of his colleagues were injured in the attack. Pte Rooney later died. The men were part of a convoy travelling to Beirut Airport.
A military tribunal in the Lebanese capital of Beirut sentenced the main defendant in the case, Mohammad Ayyad, to death, according to local reports.
READ MORE
Other defendants, who were not previously before the court, have received sentences of a lesser nature.
It is understood Lebanon has not carried out an execution in about 20 years.
The main defendant was released on bail some time ago and was not in court on Monday when the sentence was decided.
As well as being sentenced to death, Ayyad was fined 100 million Lebanese pounds (€960).
Another defendant was sentenced to three months in prison and the same fine, another to one month and the same fine. Three others were fined 200 million Lebanese pounds each. Another defendant was acquitted.
Micheál Martin
, who has previously said the Government believed the
Hizbullah
militia was primarily responsible for Pte Rooney's death, welcomed the conviction of the main defendant.
But the Taoiseach said it was 'unsatisfactory' that the man 'is still at large' and said 'many will feel the sentences passed down on the other defendants are far too lenient'.
He said the delay in progressing the case was 'deeply regrettable'.
'Peacekeeping is the most noble cause of all, and the role of the peacekeeper must at all times be honoured and respected. This is a very difficult day for the family of Seán Rooney, in particular his mother Natasha,' he said.
'Seán was a soldier of great courage who put the safety of others before his own safety in the line of duty. He was brave and diligent.'
Mr Martin said his thoughts and prayers were with Pte Rooney's mother, family, friends and colleagues.
Minister for Defence
Simon Harris
welcomed the conviction of the main defendant and a number of the other defendants who had not previously been in court.
'While noting the sentence handed down to the main defendant, I am disappointed and share the disappointment of Pte Rooney's family at the lighter sentences imposed on a number of those convicted today.'
Pte Rooney had made the ultimate sacrifice in the noble pursuit of peace, he said.
'This is a difficult time for his family and his colleagues, especially those who were injured that night. All our thoughts are with them at this time,' the Tánaiste said.
Mr Harris said he wanted to express his appreciation to his officials, Ireland's Ambassador to Lebanon, members of the Defence Forces, Ireland's Honorary Consul to Lebanon and the Department's Lebanese lawyer, all of whom attended Monday's hearing along with a member of Pte Rooney's family.
Lebanese reports said the tribunal's president, Brigadier General Wassim Fayyad, said: 'Hearts beat for the continued presence of the peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, given the humanitarian, social, and even cultural work they are doing.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Private Seán Rooney's mother hits out at Tánaiste and Lebanon after sentencing tribunal
The mother of Private Seán Rooney has hit out at Tánaiste Simon Harris, the Government, and the Lebanese justice system in the wake of a man being sentenced to death in Lebanon for his killing. Pte Rooney, who was 24 and from Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, was killed while on United Nations peacekeeping duty when the armoured vehicle he was driving from south Lebanon to Beirut came under fire in December 2022. Several others were injured in the attack. On Monday, a tribunal in Lebanon sentenced the main defendant in the case, Mohammad Ayyad, to death. He was absent from the proceedings as he was convicted at the military court on Monday, it is understood. Others were given lighter sentences. Both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste welcomed the conviction of the main defendant, but hit out at the lighter sentences issued. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it was "unsatisfactory" that the main defendant is still at large. In a statement on Thursday, however, Natasha Rooney criticised both the tribunal and the response from Ireland. Son's legacy 'has been tarnished' Ms Rooney described the court proceedings in Lebanon as a "sham", saying that what happened in the tribunal was "not justice" and was "unreflective of what we regard as a trial process". "The trial into the murder of my son was heard and determined in less than half a day," she stated. "Not only was justice not done, it was not seen to be done, with little to no information being disclosed or challenged in open court. "Instead, we are forced to believe the answers provided by a Lebanese justice system which, from the outset, has failed to hold those responsible to account." She said her son's "legacy has been tarnished with fake news and false narratives". "The factual reality here is that the perpetrator who has been convicted for my son's murder has been untraceable and untraced for many years," she stated. "Not only did he not appear for his trial, but it is clear that he might never appear. "The verdict, in reality, is nothing more than a headline to the Lebanese authorities who masquerade this sham trial process as a semblance of justice for my son." Hurt and disappointed The statement, issued by Phoenix Law on behalf of Ms Rooney, went on to say: "In what other country would accomplices to the murder of a peacekeeping soldier be sentenced to monetary fines? To the Lebanese courts, assisting in the murder of my son is worth nothing more than $1,200. Whilst hurt and disappointed, I expected nothing less from a Government that is run hand in glove with a terrorist organisation. Ms Rooney added: "I did, however, expect more from the very country to whom my son died wearing with pride his native flag." "You would be forgiven for reading the Irish Government's response as one of victory for justice. Again, whilst such utterances are disappointing, they are unsurprising. "In a country where victims' rights ought to be paramount, it would perhaps be wise for the Tánaiste to speak to me, before seeking to speak for me, in his public statements." Ms Rooney said that she was not angry, but determined to ensure justice for her son, "and to highlight the uncomfortable truths about the systematic failings by the United Nations, the Irish Defence Forces, and the Lebanese justice system. "That is the very least I owe my son Sean," she stated. "It is the very least I owe Sean's comrades. And it is the very least the Irish justice system owes us all.'
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Irish Times
‘A sham trial process': Mother of Seán Rooney criticises Lebanese court
The prosecution of a group of men for the death of Private Seán Rooney, the Irish peacekeeper murdered in Lebanon in 2022, was a 'sham' and not reflective of justice, the soldier's mother has said. Natasha Rooney issued the strongly-worded statement on Thursday following the conviction of seven men for Pte Rooney's killing by a Lebanese military court earlier in the week. Pte Rooney (24) and three other Irish peacekeepers, who were serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) mission in south Lebanon, were driving to Beruit airport when their UN -marked vehicle came under attack. On Monday one of the men involved in the attack, Muhammad Ayyad, was sentenced to death in absentia. Another six men were given short prison sentences or small fines. READ MORE Ayyad, who fired a gun into Pte Rooney's vehicle during the attack in the village of Al-Aqbiya in south Lebanon, was granted bail by the court early in 2023 for medical reasons. Ayyad was expected to appear at the court hearing on Monday but did not show up. He remains at large. He is a member of Hizbullah , which has been designated a terrorist organisation by the EU. The group has denied responsibility for the attack. The other accused showed up to the court on Monday, having missed all previous court dates. [ Irish soldier Seán Rooney: Man sentenced to death over killing in Lebanon Opens in new window ] Ms Rooney, from Donegal, was critical of several aspects of the case, as well as the approach of the Irish Government. 'Whilst I am restricted in what I can say due to the live proceedings, I cannot sit idly by and let the truth get lost in the hysteria,' she said in a statement issued by solicitor Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law. 'What happened in Lebanon was not justice. What happened in Lebanon is unreflective of what we regard as a trial process.' Ms Rooney said the case was heard in less than half a day 'with little to no information being disclosed or challenged in open court'. 'Instead, we are forced to believe the answers provided by a Lebanese justice system, which from the outset has failed to hold those responsible to account.' The court proceedings have caused extreme disappointment and heartbreak to the Rooney family, she said. The hearing was originally due to take place in September but was brought forward with minimal notice, which caused the family unforeseen pressures, she said. 'The verdict in reality is nothing more than a headline to the Lebanese authorities who masquerade this sham trial process as a semblance of justice for my son,' Ms Rooney said. Ayyad is untraceable, she said. 'Not only did he not appear for his trial, but it is clear that he might never appear.' Ms Rooney asked what country would sentence those involved in the murder of a peacekeeper to monetary fines. 'To the Lebanese courts, assisting in the murder of my son is worth nothing more than 1,200 dollars. Whilst hurt and disappointed, I expected nothing less from a government that is run hand in glove with a terrorist organisation.' She also criticised the 'fake news and false narratives' that have circulated about Pte Rooney's death, including claims it occurred after he took a 'wrong turn' while driving to Beirut airport. These claims are part of a concerted effort to 'shift the focus' regarding the incident, she said. The response of Irish Government officials to the verdict could be read 'as one of victory for justice', she said. 'Again whilst such utterances are disappointing, they are unsurprising.' Referring to Tánaiste Simon Harris , she said he should have spoken to her first 'before seeking to speak for me, in his public statements.' She also criticised the flying of Hizbullah flags during a protest outside Government buildings in November 2024. These flags were flown alongside of the tricolour, which Pte Rooney died in the name of, Ms Rooney said. 'I am, however, not angry. I am determined. My son died trying to protect his three comrades as he made all efforts to escape an armed gang who had surrounded their vehicle and fired their shots. He dedicated his entire life to protect those of his three friends,' she said. 'In his name, I will dedicate every bone in my body to ensure justice for Seán, and to highlight the uncomfortable truths about the systematic failings by the United Nations, the Irish Defence Forces and the Lebanese Justice system. 'That is the very least I owe my son Seán. It is the very least I owe Seán's comrades.'
Irish Times
30-07-2025
- Irish Times
Overseas deployment of Irish troops should require independent legal advice, committee advises
Independent legal advice should be commissioned in advance of any overseas mission by Irish troops if the Government proceeds with plans to modify the 'triple lock' method of sanctioning deployment, an Oireachtas committee has found. A report from the Joint Committee on Defence and National Security argues for a strengthening of legal and Oireachtas oversight of Defence Forces activities abroad. It contends that the Oireachtas should have to vote on a regular basis to renew the mandate for deployment. The Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025, which is undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny, removes the requirement for a United Nations mandate when deploying a contingent of 12 or more troops outside the State as part of an international force. UN Security Council approval is one aspect of the 'triple lock' consent mechanism, which also requires a Dáil vote and government decision. The matter has become a topic of heated debate within the political system, with the Opposition arguing removal of UN Security Council endorsement represents a dilution of Irish neutrality. Opposition parties have accused the Government of wanting to step away from the traditional policy and towards a more liberal approach of sending troops overseas. READ MORE The Government argues the current system allows for an effective veto by the council's permanent members, such as Russia and China. No new peacekeeping mandate has been approved by the council since 2014. The legislation would also allow for the deployment of up to 50 troops without a supporting Dáil resolution. The Oireachtas committee, which was undertaking pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill, will publish its report on Wednesday afternoon. It recommends that 'at minimum, there be a formal legal review of any proposed deployment, undertaken by an independent body'. At regular intervals during a deployment the government should need a 'renewed mandate' for the mission via a majority Dáil and government vote, and another formal legal review, it says. Within 12 months of a deployment, a Dáil resolution should be sought for it to continue, it advises. The legislation should also allow the Dáil, Seanad or the Oireachtas defence committee to request an 'urgent review' of deployments. [ Sinn Féin wants 111 changes to Bill reforming 'triple lock' Irish troop deployment Opens in new window ] Opposition sources are claiming as a victory the lack of a recommendation within the report to remove the triple lock. However, neither does it contain a recommendation to retain it in its current form. In her foreword to the report, committee chair Rose Conway-Walsh, of Sinn Féin, said nothing within the triple lock 'deters the Irish government from addressing the legacy of neglect of our Defence Forces'. She said Opposition members, several witnesses and 'hundreds of submissions' from the public were 'deeply concerned that this proposed legislation would present a threat to our neutrality', while Government members and other witnesses said it would have no impact. The report outlines that evidence on this aspect of the Bill 'has been extensive but also often contradictory'. The legislation contains provisions regarding the management of Defence Forces members charged with or convicted of serious criminal offences. These include options for their suspension from duty and new procedures to be followed during suspensions.
