Urgent Appeal Filed in Lebanon for Private Seán Rooney’s Murder Case

UPDATE: An urgent appeal has just been lodged in Lebanon against the leniency of sentences handed to those involved in the murder of Private Seán Rooney. This significant development follows the Lebanese Government’s confirmation that it has dismissed the military prosecutor in Beirut and will pursue the arrest of chief suspect Mohammad Ayyad.

The appeal was filed this evening after widespread outcry regarding the sentences, which many, including Rooney’s grieving family, deemed insufficient. Private Seán Rooney, age 24, from Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, was tragically killed on December 14, 2022, when a UN peacekeeping convoy he was part of was attacked near Al-Aqbiya, a region controlled by the militant group Hezbollah.

In the attack, Private Rooney lost his life while Trooper Shane Kearney, age 22, sustained serious injuries. Other soldiers, Corporal Joshua Phelan and Trooper Nathan Bryan, were also part of the convoy. Sentences for several suspected Hezbollah members involved in the incident ranged from mere fines to a few months in prison, eliciting outrage from Rooney’s family and the Irish Government.

Tánaiste Simon Harris expressed his deep disappointment over the initial rulings following a meeting with Private Rooney’s family last week. He communicated the Irish Government’s sentiments to Lebanese officials and advocated for the appeal during talks conducted earlier today.

“The sentences handed down in this case are simply not acceptable and are very disappointing,” Harris stated. “They have caused great upset and insult to the Rooney family, and everything must be done to ensure justice is served for Seán and his colleagues who were injured,” he added.

In a call made this evening to Natasha McCloskey, Private Rooney’s mother, Harris confirmed the lodging of the appeal. He reassured her that he would continue to engage directly with the Lebanese Government regarding the status of the appeal.

This appeal marks a critical step in the ongoing quest for justice for Private Rooney and his injured comrades. As developments unfold, the Irish community and those advocating for justice will be closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon.

Stay tuned for updates as this story develops, and share your thoughts on social media using #JusticeForSeanRooney.