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Extra.ie
2 days ago
- General
- Extra.ie
Mother of Private Seán Rooney to sue UN over his death in Lebanon ambush
The mother of a 24-year-old Irish soldier who was killed in an ambush while on duty in Lebanon is to sue the United Nations. Natasha Rooney was granted permission by the High Court yesterday to pursue her case against the UN, which has its headquarters in New York. Today's top videos STORY CONTINUES BELOW Her legal action over Private Seán Rooney's death is also being taken against the Defence Forces, the Minister for Defence and the State. Private Seán Rooney. Pic: Family Handout/PA Wire It comes after a military court in Lebanon indicted seven men over the attack. Taoiseach Micheál Martin welcomed the latest development regarding the UN. He said: 'Natasha Rooney has gone through a terrible trauma in respect of the murder of her son Seán,n and we await the outcome of the trial in Lebanon. '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. Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Pic: Gareth Chaney/PA Wire 'We believe Hezbollah was primarily responsible for the death of Seán, but of course, full accountability and full transparency is owed to the Rooney family, so I welcome developments.' In her High Court case, Ms Rooney, from Newtown Cunningham, Co. Donegal, is claiming damages for the mental distress she and her family have suffered. In an affidavit grounding the application, solicitor Darragh Mackin, of Phoenix Law solicitors, said that her son was killed while on UN duty when the armoured vehicle he was driving from South Lebanon to Beirut came under fire in December 2022. Darragh Mackin. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin His UN-marked armoured SUV-type vehicle had been travelling as part of a two-vehicle convoy on an administrative run to Beirut Airport from the Irish UN base, Camp Shamrock. 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, and the Irish soldier was killed. Ms Rooney alleges that UN officials ordered soldiers at the Irish base to stand down from going to assist, believing that other peacekeepers may have been closer. Private Seán Rooney. Pic: Family Handout/PA Wire According to the affidavit, investigations by the Defence Forces are ongoing, a criminal prosecution in Lebanon is ongoing, and a verdict from the Dublin Coroner's Court is awaited. It said the information which had been given to Ms Rooney concerning the circumstances of her son's death was 'limited'. Mr Mackin said it was necessary to obtain the court's approval to serve the intended proceedings on the UN, as it was based outside this jurisdiction. Natasha Rooney, the mother of Private Sean Rooney, and her husband, Paul McCloskey (left). Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire He said the UN was a proper party to the proceedings as it was involved in the operation of UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon), and Pte Rooney was killed in action on a UNIFIL peacekeeping mission. However, he said the case should be heard in Ireland, as most of the intended defendants have their main offices here and witnesses are likely to be resident in Ireland too. He said it would also save costs, rather than having the dispute litigated in Lebanon or the US. Pte Rooney's family has pressed the UN to make crucial reports linked to the young soldier's death available to his inquest, being conducted by the Dublin District senior coroner, Dr Myra Cullinane. The coroner's court heard that the UN had carried out reports which had not yet been made available to the inquest. These include an investigation carried out on the ground as well as a subsequent UN board of inquiry report. The hearing was told that there had also been a report ten months prior to the incident that raised concerns about the integrity of the UN vehicles involved. However, it was heard that there were issues around disclosing these reports. Yesterday, Judge Paul Coffey granted permission to Ms Rooney to issue a plenary summons against the United Nations, outlining the allegations against it, and to serve it on the UN based in New York. The UN will then have 42 days to enter an appearance in the case. In March, RTÉ reported the UN would share more details with Pte Rooney's family about its investigation into his death, via Ireland's diplomatic mission with the UN in New York. Last November, the Government appointed Michael Delaney SC to investigate matters surrounding the killing of Pte Rooney. Mr Delaney was asked to examine the training and briefing of Defence Forces personnel, as well as the planning of the convoy. He may identify areas for learning and recommend changes. His investigation will not look into criminal matters surrounding the attack, as these fall under the remit of a criminal investigation being carried out in Lebanon, where a military court has indicted seven men over the incident. It previously said all were either members of Hezbollah or another allied group. Hezbollah has denied involvement in the attack.
The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Irish premier welcomes that mother of peacekeeper killed in Lebanon can sue UN
Irish premier Micheal Martin has welcomed that the mother of an Irish peacekeeper killed in Lebanon has been given permission to sue the UN. Sean Rooney, 24, from Newtowncunningham in Co Donegal, was killed when a convoy of Irish troops serving with a UN peacekeeping force was ambushed and fired upon on December 14 2022. The shooting happened near the town of Al-Aqbiya in the south of Lebanon, a stronghold of Hezbollah. Pte Rooney, from the 121 Infantry Battalion of the Defence Forces, was killed. On Tuesday, his mother Natasha was granted permission by the High Court in Dublin to sue the UN. Asked about the granting of permission to sue the UN, the Taoiseach welcomed developments. 'Natasha Rooney has gone through a terrible trauma in respect of the murder of her son Sean and we await the outcome of the trial in Lebanon,' Mr Martin said. '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. 'We believe Hezbollah was primarily responsible for the death of Sean, but of course full accountability and full transparency is owed to the Rooney family, so I welcome developments.' Natasha Rooney said in a statement that she intends to use all legal avenues available to her to hold those responsible for her son's death to account. 'Sean's case has never been about compensation or money – it is about the truth and accountability,' she said. 'Sean was failed by those who should have protected him. Despite numerous requests, I have still not been provided with the very basic documents from the United Nations from their investigations. 'I intend on using every court procedure available to me to ensure that the truth is told about Sean's death, and that those who failed him are held accountable for their actions and omissions.' Solicitor for Ms Rooney Darragh Mackin said: 'Our client has been failed time and time again by the very institutions that ought to have protected her son. 'We make no apologies for pursuing every available legal avenue to seek the truth and justice for Private Sean Rooney.' Pte Rooney's family has pressed the UN to make crucial reports linked to the soldier's death available to his inquest, being conducted by the Dublin District Senior Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane. The court heard that the UN had carried out reports which had not yet been made available to the inquest. These include an investigation carried out on the ground as well as a subsequent UN board of inquiry report. The hearing was told there had also been a report 10 months prior to the incident that raised concerns about the integrity of the UN vehicles involved. However, they were originally told there were issues around disclosing these reports.
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Taoiseach welcomes that mother of peacekeeper killed in Lebanon can sue UN
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has welcomed that the mother of an Irish peacekeeper killed in Lebanon has been given permission to sue the UN. Sean Rooney, 24, from Newtowncunningham in Co Donegal, was killed when a convoy of Irish troops serving with a UN peacekeeping force was ambushed and fired upon on December 14th, 2022. Advertisement The shooting happened near the town of Al-Aqbiya in the south of Lebanon, a stronghold of Hezbollah. Pte Rooney, from the 121 Infantry Battalion of the Defence Forces, was killed. The burial service for Private Sean Rooney at All Saints Catholic Church, Colehill, Co Donegal in December 2022 (Liam McBurney/PA) On Tuesday, his mother Natasha was granted permission by the High Court in Dublin to sue the UN. Asked about the granting of permission to sue the UN, the Taoiseach welcomed developments. Advertisement 'Natasha Rooney has gone through a terrible trauma in respect of the murder of her son Sean and we await the outcome of the trial in Lebanon,' Mr Martin said. '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. 'We believe Hezbollah was primarily responsible for the death of Sean, but of course full accountability and full transparency is owed to the Rooney family, so I welcome developments.' Pte Rooney's family has pressed the UN to make crucial reports linked to the soldier's death available to his inquest, being conducted by the Dublin District Senior Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane. Advertisement The court heard that the UN had carried out reports which had not yet been made available to the inquest. These include an investigation carried out on the ground as well as a subsequent UN board of inquiry report. The hearing was told there had also been a report 10 months prior to the incident that raised concerns about the integrity of the UN vehicles involved. However, they were originally told there were issues around disclosing these reports.
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Mother of Irish soldier Sean Rooney gets permission to sue the United Nations
The mother of a young Irish soldier killed in action in Lebanon three years ago has been given permission by the High Court to sue the United Nations in the Irish courts. Private Sean Rooney (24) was killed while on UN duty when the armoured vehicle he was driving from south Lebanon to Beirut came under fire in December 2022. Advertisement His mother, Natasha Rooney, from Newtowncunningham in Co Donegal, has already initiated proceedings against the Irish Defence Forces, the Minister for Defence, and the State parties, Ireland and the Attorney General, over the death of her son. 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 Court on Tuesday that Pte Sean Rooney lost his life in an ambush and they now wanted leave to issue and serve proceedings on the UN, which has headquarters in New York. On December 14th, 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 Airport from the Irish UN base, Camp Shamrock. Four soldiers were in each SUV. Advertisement 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 and Pte Rooney was killed. Central to the case against the UN is the allegation that UN officials allegedly ordered soldiers at the Irish base to stand down from going to assist as those officials believed other peacekeepers may have been closer. In an affidavit to the High Court grounding the application, solicitor Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law solicitors said investigations by the Irish Defence Forces were ongoing, a criminal prosecution in Lebanon was ongoing and a verdict from the Dublin Coroner's Court was awaited. The affidavit said there was 'currently limited information available to Ms Rooney regarding the relevant circumstances.' As the United Nations has it main office and place of business in the United States, the affidavit said it was necessary to bring the application for leave to issue and serve the intended proceedings outside the jurisdiction. Advertisement Mr Mackin said the United Nations is a proper party to the proceedings as it was involved in the operation of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) and Pte Rooney was killed in action on a Unifil peacekeeping mission. Ireland Lebanese ministers offer 'assurance' to Harris ove... Read More The Republic of Ireland, he said, was an appropriate jurisdiction where to hear and determine the intended proceedings as the balance of the intended defendants have their main offices within the State and witness 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 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, will now be served on the UN, which will have 42 days to enter an appearance in the case.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Seán Rooney: Mother of Irish soldier killed in Lebanon given permission to sue United Nations
The mother of an Irish soldier killed in Lebanon has been given permission by the High Court to sue the United Nations (UN) in the Irish courts. Private Seán Rooney was on UN duty when the armoured vehicle he was driving from south Lebanon to Beirut came under fire in December 2022. His mother, Natasha Rooney, from Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, has already initiated proceedings against the Defence Forces, the Minister for Defence, Ireland and the Attorney General over her 24-year-old son's death. Pte Seán Rooney's mother, Natasha, and her husband, Paul, at Dublin District Coroner's Court last summer. Photograph: Colin Keegan/ Collins She is suing for mental distress allegedly sustained by her and other members of the family as a result of Pte Rooney's death. READ MORE Barrister Ray Motherway, for Ms Rooney, on Tuesday told the High Court Pte Rooney lost his life in an ambush and his side wanted leave to issue and serve proceedings on the UN, which has headquarters in New York. On December 14th, 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 Airport from the Irish UN base, Camp Shamrock. 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 and Pte Rooney was killed. Central to the case against the UN is the allegation that UN officials allegedly ordered soldiers at the Irish base to stand down from going to assist as those officials believed other peacekeepers may have been closer. In an affidavit grounding Ms Rooney's application to sue the UN, solicitor Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law said Pte Rooney was on a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) deployment at the time of his death. He said investigations by the Irish Defence Forces and a criminal prosecution in Lebanon are ongoing, and that a verdict form the Dublin Coroner's Court is awaited. Mr Mackin said there is 'currently limited information available to Ms Rooney regarding the relevant circumstances' of her son's death. As the UN has it main offices and place of business in the US, he said it was necessary to bring the application for leave to issue and serve the intended proceedings outside the jurisdiction. Mr Mackin said the UN 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. The State, he added, is an appropriate jurisdiction to hear and determine the intended proceedings as the balance of the intended defendants have their main offices here and witnesses are resident in Ireland. It would also save on costs rather than having the dispute litigated in Lebanon or the US, he said. Mr Justice Paul Coffey accepted jurisdiction and granted permission to issue and serve a plenary summons on the UN in New York, which will have 42 days to enter an appearance in the case.
