The Daily Star Ireland
The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces supports calls for the family of Private Seán Rooney to receive the details of a United Nations report regarding his death.
Lieutenant General Seán Clancy agreed with Tánaiste Micheál Martin that all facts and information from the UN report should be provided to the coroner.
In an interview with RTÉ’s This Week, Clancy stated it is unacceptable to blame Private Rooney for his actions on the day of the attack.
Private Rooney’s family lawyer, Darragh Mackin, mentioned that a harmful narrative suggested Rooney had made a wrong turn that day.
However, Lt Gen Clancy emphasized that no blame should be assigned to Rooney, calling it unthinkable to do so under the circumstances.
Private Rooney was driving a UN-marked vehicle when he and his colleagues were attacked by armed men in Al-Aqbiya on December 14, 2022. They were traveling in a two-vehicle convoy from the Irish UN base, Camp Shamrock in southern Lebanon, to Beirut Airport on an administrative run.
Lt Gen Clancy acknowledged the frustration caused by delays in obtaining answers and accountability for Rooney’s death.
A military court in Lebanon has indicted seven men in connection with the attack. Only one, Mohammad Ayyad, was detained and later released for health reasons. The others were considered fugitives, and the trial was postponed until February 2025 to be held in their absence.
When asked if he was optimistic about justice from the ongoing criminal process in Lebanon, Lt Gen Clancy said that while they demand justice, being hopeful is a different matter. He noted that the slow pace of justice is frustrating and emphasized that justice delayed is justice denied. He stressed that until there is complete truth and accountability, justice will remain elusive in this case.
