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The Independent
03-06-2025
- 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.
Leader Live
03-06-2025
- General
- Leader Live
Irish premier welcomes that mother of peacekeeper killed in Lebanon can sue 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.
Belfast Telegraph
03-06-2025
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Irish premier welcomes that mother of peacekeeper killed in Lebanon can sue 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.
The Irish Sun
03-06-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
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 Read more in News 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. Most read in Irish News 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
South Wales Argus
03-06-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Irish premier welcomes that mother of peacekeeper killed in Lebanon can sue 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. 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. '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. 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.
