Private Sean Rooney is the 88th member of the Defence Forces to lose their life overseas
The 23-year-old was one of over 350 Irish troops on the Unifil peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. Photograph: Defence ForcesThe killing of Private Seán Rooney in South Lebanon on Wednesday night was the first death of an Irish peacekeeper in combat in 23 years.
Pte Billy Kedian from Co Mayo was the last Defence Forces member to die in the line of fire when he was killed in 1999 when the Irish Unifil camp came under attack. He was killed by mortar fire from an Israeli-backed militia while trying to evacuate other troops to safety. Seven other Defence Forces personnel have lost their lives overseas since then but as a result of accidents and illness rather than violent action.
Pte Rooney became the 88th Defence Forces member to die overseas when his vehicle was attacked by an angry mob on Wednesday night in Al-Aqbieh, just outside the UN-affiliated group’s area of operations.
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