Inquiry into Private Seán Rooney death to take nine months

An inquiry into the killing of an Irish soldier in Lebanon, in an incident in which others were also injured, may take up to nine months.

Private Seán Rooney was killed while serving in Lebanon, when his UN peacekeeping convoy was attacked in December 2022.

The shooting near the town of Al-Aqbiya in the south of Lebanon, a stronghold of Hezbollah, resulted in the death of Private Rooney. Trooper Shane Kearney, 22, was badly wounded. Two others sustained minor injuries.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin appointed Michael Delaney SC to conduct an independent inquiry into the attack. The inquiry began on Friday.

There have been a number of reports prepared by the Defence Forces, the United Nations and An Garda Siochana in relation to the shooting.

The Department of Defence said the inquiry will consolidate these into a single report covering work-related issues.

It said it will examine where changes may be required in the tactics, techniques and procedures adopted by the Defence Forces for overseas operations.

It will not investigate the criminal matters that led to the death of Private Rooney and injuries to other personnel.

This is the subject of a criminal investigation being carried out by the Lebanese authorities. It will also be separate from the ongoing inquest process being conducted by the Dublin coroner.

The inquiry will report and make recommendations to the Minister for Defence after a process anticipated to last up to nine months.

Private Rooney was driving an armoured jeep when a UN peacekeeping convoy in which he was travelling came under attack in the south Lebanon town of Al-Aqbiya on December 14, 2022.

Private Rooney, a Dundalk native who had lived in Newtowncunningham for the past decade, became the 48th Irish soldier to die while on a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. He was due to wed his fiancé Holly McConnellogue in 2023.

Private Rooney was laid to rest in Newtowncunningham with full military honours.