Lebanese Court Charges Five With Killing Seán Rooney

Thursday, 1 June 2023 16:40

By Kate Dooley

A military court in Lebanon has formally charged five people over the killing of Irish peacekeeper Private Seán Rooney last year.

A military court in Lebanon is reported to have charged five members of the Hezbollah-led militia with the killing of Irish peacekeeper Private Seán Rooney last year.

The attack took place near the village of al-Aqbiya, in southern Lebanon, on 14 December.

The AFP news agency reports that a 30-page indictment accuses the men of "voluntary homicide".

It says they have all been referred to the military court for trial.

The indictment says five people "formed a criminal gang and implemented a criminal project" and underlines that the actions are punishable by death under the Lebanese penal code.

Hezbollah, which has both a political and military wing, handed a man over to Lebanese authorities 10 days after Private Rooney was killed.

According to the indictment some of the accused "were heard saying 'we are from Hezbollah,' and calling each other via walkie-talkies".

Of the five people named in the indictment, only one person is in custody.

More from National News

Thieves Strip Copper From Bord Na Móna Site In Overnight Heist, Resulting In €40K Worth Of Damage

The intruders targeted the facility's control panels, which operate key electric motors, and proceeded to extract copper wiring from the equipment.
Thousands Of Errors Found On Electoral Register, Including Deceased And Duplicate Voters

Audio

Eleven counties have more people on the register than their entire populations.
Kildare's Naoise Ó Cearúil Appointed Fianna Fáil Spokesperson On AI And Gaeltacht

"It's a real privilege to be asked to serve in this capacity," Ó Cearúil said.
Kildare Councillors Clash Over Proposal To Set Minimum Size For New Crèches

Meanwhile, after 100 days in government the coalition is facing a backlash over the cost of childcare.
Kildare TD To Question RTÉ At Pac Committee Over €3.6m IT "Scandal"

Social Democrats Kildare North TD Aidan Farrelly, who will sit on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), said: “This latest waste of public money has only come to light because of the recent controversy surrounding the Arts Council’s abandoned €6.7 million IT system.
Heydon Calls Emergency TB Forum As Cases Surge To 20-Year High

The Minister warned that Ireland is now at a "crossroads" in its efforts to eradicate the disease, which has returned to levels last seen in 2003.
Kildare TDs Weigh In As Cabinet Debates High-Cost Housing 'Tsar'

The price tag of over 400 thousand euro is causing controversy.
Five Children Among 39 People Deported From Ireland Last Night

It's the second chartered deportation flight to take place this year.