No justice over murder of my son, says mother of Sean Rooney

A military tribunal into the killing of Irish peacekeeper Private Sean Rooney was “not justice”, the soldier’s mother has said.

Natasha Rooney said she wanted to express her family’s “extreme disappointment and heartbreak” at recent court proceedings in Lebanon.

Pte 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 Monday, Tanaiste Simon Harris said he had been informed of the completion of a military tribunal in Beirut for those indicted for the murder of Pte Rooney.

One man was sentenced to death, but he remains at large. A number of other men were also convicted in relation to other offences over the shooting.

In a statement released through Phoenix Law, Ms Rooney said her son was a “brave and courageous soldier” and a “much-loved son, brother, fiance and friend”.

She said: “Whilst no court case or litigation can bring Sean back, the truth and justice for his murder is the very least he deserves.

“Whilst I am restricted in what I can say due to the live proceedings, I cannot sit idly by and let the truth get lost in the hysteria.

“What happened in Lebanon was not justice. What happened in Lebanon is unreflective of what we regard as a trial process.

“The trial into the murder of my son was heard and determined in less than half a day.

“Not only was justice not done, it was not seen to be done, with little to no information being disclosed or challenged in open court.

“Instead, we are forced to believe the answers provided by a Lebanese justice system which from the outset has failed to hold those responsible to account.”

Ms Rooney said the perpetrator of her son’s murder “has been untraceable and untraced for many years”.

She said: “Not only did he not appear for his trial, but it is clear that he might never appear.

“The verdict in reality is nothing more than a headline to the Lebanese authorities who masquerade this sham trial process as a semblance of justice for my son.”

Ms Rooney also urged Mr Harris to speak to her “before seeking to speak for me, in his public statements”.

She said: “I am not angry. I am determined.

“My son died trying to protect his three comrades as he made all efforts to escape an armed gang who had surrounded their vehicle and fired their shots.

“He dedicated his entire life to protect those of his three friends.

“In his name, I will dedicate every bone in my body to ensure justice for Sean.”

Mr Harris said: “I cannot imagine the pain and suffering experienced by the Rooney family.

“As I said after the military tribunal, I was deeply disappointed at some of the lighter sentences imposed.

“I look forward to meeting Mrs Rooney and arrangements are under way to ensure this happens.

“Above all, I want to support her quest for justice in any way I possibly can.”