This morning, between the hours of 7.40 a.m. and 9.30 a.m., an exchange of fire took place between De Facto Forces at Haddathah Compound and armed elements firing from near Haddathah in the Irish Battalion area of operations in South Lebanon. Throughout the firing, Irish troops remained under cover. At 10.10 a.m., after the firing had ceased, a foot patrol from A Company, 66 Battalion, moved through Haddathah to assess what damage had been caused and what casualties had been suffered among the local population.
At the south-western edge of the village, a confrontation took place between the patrol and a number of armed elements. The armed elements first threatened the patrol and then opened fire. One Irish soldier was injured when an RPG anti-tank round struck a jeep. Two other Irish soldiers received gunshot wounds. The Irish patrol was ordered to return fire. Two of the armed elements were fatally wounded.
The three Irish soldiers who had received injuries were evacuated by helicopter to the UN hospital at Naqoura. All are expected to recover. Two other soldiers are being maintained under medical observation for shock following the blast of the RPG anti-tank round. The injured men are Private Riccardo Lucchesi, 17 Aghnameen Park, Dundalk, Private Patrick Mason, 44 New Vale, Shankill, County Dublin and Private Anthony Sheeran, 3 Tower View, Terenure, Dunleer. Naturally I express sorrow at the incident and regret that two fatalities occurred. I wish a speedy return to health of the Irish Army personnel involved. I will be glad to give any further information that arises but, as of now, that is the exact situation as furnished to me. I feel that the House should have the knowledge because it is now public knowledge and more details will probably emerge but I am satisfied that what I have stated here represents the facts.
Deputy Mac Giolla rose.