Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 November 2023
42. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he is aware of the alleged release on bail of one of the men accused of the murder of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50907/23]
View answerIt seems that Lebanon's military tribunal has released one of the men accused of the murder of Private Seán Rooney. Obviously, four others are still at large also. Could the Tánaiste give an update on the case and any engagements that he has had with the Lebanese authorities and other stakeholders? As he said previously, it is all about leaving no stone unturned in the context of delivering justice for Private Seán Rooney.
On 15 November, when I was in the Middle East, my Department became aware of a Lebanese media report announcing that one of the individuals accused of the murder of Private Seán Rooney on 14 December last who had been in Lebanese custody had been released on bail. The case against this individual and the other defendants is due to resume in Beirut on 15 December.
In addition to the assistance provided by the Irish Embassy in Cairo and the honorary consulate in Beirut, my Department has also engaged the services of a Lebanese legal firm to represent the interests and concerns of the Irish Government at court hearings in this case.
Following the media reports, immediate inquiries have been made to establish the facts and circumstances relating to the release of the individual concerned. Those inquiries confirmed that he had been released on bail with the payment of a financial bond and the understanding is that the release was granted for medical reasons. Further inquiries are continuing to obtain as much detail as possible on this release.
The family are my absolute priority in terms of ensuring that they are kept immediately informed of any updates received by the Department, including the very disappointing news this week. I am not at all happy with what has transpired. In this regard, I met with Private Rooney's mother, Natasha, yesterday to update her on the progress of the investigations being carried out into her son's killing. I assured her of the Government's continued determination to ensure that justice is done in holding to account those responsible for this heinous crime. This is a point I strongly made again recently to my Lebanese foreign and defence counterparts as well as at the United Nations when I met the Secretary General, António Guterres, earlier in the year. I met with the Lebanese foreign minister during UNGA week in September in respect of this matter.
Given that this matter is now before the Lebanese judicial system, I am not in a position to comment further at this time. My Department, the embassy in Cairo, the honorary consulate in Beirut will continue to monitor developments very closely. Our legal representatives can observe what is going on in the courts but cannot intervene in the court case per se.
Obviously, I cannot imagine how this is for Natasha and the rest of the family. I am aware that the Tánaiste met with them. The most important thing is that we ensure the family is kept up to date as much as possible. It is vital that we get answers. I do not think it is okay that the Tánaiste learned of this through media reports. I do welcome the fact that the family was informed as soon as he knew, but we need to get the answers in relation to this issue. We are very worried about this situation. We know that it must be investigated from the point of view of the Defence Forces to ensure that they make all the learnings that are necessary from the point of view of protocols and operating procedures. It is also vital that we remember Private Rooney and the sacrifice that he made and that his family are offered all that the State can from the point of view of delivering justice.
I appreciate what Deputy Ó Murchú is saying. I am not happy with this and quite understandably the family are not happy. I will again convey to the Lebanese Government and to the United Nations my view that the lives of our peacekeepers need to be valued and affirmed through robust legal processes. We know the situation in Lebanon is challenging to say the least, in terms of the polity there and the range of issues. I did meet the Lebanese minister for foreign affairs in New York at UN General Assembly week when I again raised the matter of this criminal investigation. I also recently spoke with the Lebanese defence minister and relayed strong messaging around justice for Private Rooney. We will continue to do that, and likewise with the UN. The next stage will be the next hearing on 15 December. I take on board what Deputy Ó Murchú is saying.
It is vital that we keep our eyes on the situation and that we get the answers as to why we were not informed initially. Beyond that, it is vital we maintain contacts with the UN and the Lebanese authorities. It is also vital that we look after our Defence Forces. Private Rooney was on a UNIFIL operation, which is vital peacekeeping. We have always been afraid about such a set of circumstances given the particularly precarious situation in the Middle East. Given the onslaught that Gaza is under by the Israelis at this point, we do not know how that is going to impact on the wider area, including Lebanon, but it is extremely important that the eyes are on it and that we do all that we can to ensure whatever pressure is possible is brought to bear so that justice is provided. I say that while accepting that there is a judicial process and that the Tánaiste cannot comment on that. It is about making sure we get the answers and then ensuring that the family is outdated at all times.
I am conscious that the case is under way. Hezbollah is a major force in Lebanon. That must be acknowledged as well. A new government has not been formed in Lebanon in quite a long time. That is not helpful either. The situation generally in Lebanon, with the collapse of the economy and the currency, mean there is a significant need for stability in the country. We have been long-term peacekeepers in Lebanon. The presence of peacekeepers generally is in areas which are challenging and difficult, by definition. That remains the case. It is even more so now in respect of the heightened tensions as a result of the Israeli-Hamas engagement and the danger of that spreading across to Lebanon. We are very conscious of that and we have been working very hard to avoid a regional escalation of the conflict.
