Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2023
73. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on developments in the killing of a member of Ireland’s UNIFIL mission last December; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28298/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra116. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views on the progress being made in the investigation into the death in Lebanon of UNIFIL soldier Private Seán Rooney; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29526/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraCould the Tánaiste update the House on developments regarding the killing of a member of Ireland's UNIFIL mission last December?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 116 together.
On 14 December 2022, eight personnel from the 121st Infantry Battalion were involved in an incident resulting in the death of Private Seán Rooney and injuries suffered by several others, including Trooper Shane Kearney, who suffered critical injuries. I have consistently expressed my determination to have all the facts and circumstances of the incident fully established. No stone will be left unturned to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
Private Rooney's death is the subject of several parallel investigations, particularly the criminal investigation being carried out by the Lebanese authorities, the standard UNIFIL investigation that arises in such circumstances, and the investigation by An Garda Síochána, pursuant to the provisions of the Coroners Act 1962, as amended. The Garda is carrying out an investigation for the purpose of preparing a report for the Coroner.
On the UN investigation, the UNIFIL internal investigation reported in February, and in accordance with UN procedures a board of inquiry was subsequently convened. While this board has now completed its work, a finalised report has not as yet been provided to the Irish authorities. Each of the other investigations remains ongoing and the Defence Forces continue to support each of these to the greatest extent possible. It should be noted that the criminal investigation by the Lebanese authorities takes primacy at this time and is consistent with the obligations of the State of Lebanon under the status of forces agreement with the UN.
The Deputy will be aware of the recent reports from Lebanon that a number of individuals have been charged with the death of Private Seán Rooney. In recent days, we have been advised that the first hearing date for the criminal trial has been set for 14 July. Given that this matter is before the Lebanese judicial system, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time other than to say my Department will continue to monitor developments very closely indeed.
I thank the Tánaiste for his response. He said at the end that he does not believe he can comment much further on the Lebanese authorities' investigation and the recent charging. It is alleged that the five formally charged are members of the Hezbollah armed group. Obviously, Hezbollah denies that. What is the Tánaiste's belief about the assertion? Does he believe and is he confident that there will be a fair trial, given that the record in such circumstances does not inspire the confidence of many of us?
I thank the Tánaiste for the answer he has given. Obviously, the loss of Private Seán Rooney was a huge loss to his family and the 27th Infantry Battalion in Dundalk. We all want justice done. Some of my questions are the same as those of Deputy Cowen. I accept that the Tánaiste might not be able to go into sufficient detail but we want to be sure that his interactions with the Lebanese authorities are up to the standard he would like, that he believes there is a free flow of information and that he is reasonably happy with how things are progressing.
I am aware that he has been talking to Seán's mam, Natasha. The big thing for the family is remembering Seán Rooney and the sacrifice he made. We must learn what needs to be learned regarding operations like the one in question. It is important that we do whatever we can to avoid what happened as much as possible.
In response to both Deputies, I will not speculate any further at this stage, given how imminent the trial is. In the course of my meetings with the Minister for National Defence and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon when I visited following the killing of Private Seán Rooney, I stressed the need for co-operation and the establishment of all the facts and circumstances of the incident. I stressed that no stone should be left unturned in ensuring those responsible will be brought to justice. I emphasised and underlined during our meetings that the investigation into Private Rooney's death would be as thorough and complete as possible. I am withholding judgment until I have received assurances from the Lebanese authorities but we are monitoring this the whole way. We also have the Garda inquiry, pursuant to the Coroners Act. It is helpful and effective.
I agree that lessons have to be learned in respect of our Defence Forces evaluating what happened. We must constantly seek to learn lessons from terrible atrocities such as this because it was a shocking event that resulted in the loss of a very fine Irish soldier. I have met Seán's mother, Natasha. This is a terrible loss for the entire Rooney family, a family with a very strong military tradition that has contributed immensely to our Defence Forces and Ireland as peacekeepers. It is in honour of the noble tradition that Seán Rooney personified that I want to see justice and a thorough outcome to this.
I appreciate the sensitivities of the matters involved when a trial is imminent. Insofar as he can be at this stage, and based on his initial interactions and investigations, the Minister is confident that the Lebanese authorities are insisting on a fair trial, as we would obviously expect.
I absolutely agree that we want to see justice. We also want to see a fair trial. Based on what the Tánaiste said, there will be plenty of interaction and eyes on this from our point of view. It was necessary that UNIFIL carried out its particular investigation. Obviously, our Defence Forces have their piece of work to do. This needs to be followed up with a Garda inquiry. All of this is about making sure we get justice for Seán Rooney, a young man who lost his life peacekeeping. He was from a family who have given much commitment to the Defence Forces over many years. We need to make sure we fulfil our part of that particular commitment. We also need to make sure that whatever needs to be learned is learned, and do what we can to avoid any more of these particular types of circumstances. We will be absolutely clear on who did it. It never should have happened and we all feel for the Rooney family.
I will first respond to Deputy Cowen's questions. As I said, I do not want to speculate further. I have met with the Lebanese authorities and stressed to them the importance of justice and full accountability in respect of the killing of Seán Rooney. There is a broader context to what happened in terms of the Defence Forces' overseas mission, DFOM, which is the denial of access. There is an increasing hostility by Hezbollah towards UN operations generally in south Lebanon. This has created, at the very minimum, an unfriendly environment for those operating under UNIFIL's jurisdiction endeavouring to secure peace in south Lebanon. That is also an issue we have raised with the Lebanese authorities. There has been an increase in DFOMs over the past while. We are there, along with our UNIFIL colleagues, to keep the peace. We have had a long-standing tradition in south Lebanon. That is a context to what happened here. There is no doubt of that.
The criminal trial has to take primacy. The work of An Garda Síochána is also important. The initial UNIFIL inquiry has been completed, but a board of inquiry follows that. That is not yet complete. Within our Defence Forces, we to take a lessons learned approach, as the Deputy said, and to make sure we constantly look at how we can improve our procedures, tactics, protocols and so forth.
