A solicitor for the family of Pte Seán Rooney, who was killed while serving with the UN peacekeeping force in Southern Lebanon two years ago, has said they don’t have an “iota of information” on what details are contained in a UN investigation into his death.
Their comments come the day before the second anniversary of the young soldier’s death on December 14th, 2022.
The fatal shooting occurred near the town of Al-Aqbiya in the south of Lebanon, a stronghold of Hizbullah.
A report of a UN investigation, called a Board of Inquiry, into Pte Rooney’s death, was given to the Irish government last year on the strict condition that it not be shared with any third parties.
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Pte Rooney’s family had previously expressed frustration that the UN had failed to respond to a request for information from the Dublin coroner conducting an inquest into the 24-year-old soldier’s death.
Information not yet received by his family regarding his death is expected to soon be made available to them, a UN Secretary General spokesperson is reported as saying.
Darragh Mackin, the solicitor acting on behalf of Pte Rooney’s family, told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that neither he nor the family have received an “iota of information as to what will be provided [to them by the UN].
“The first the family heard about it was from the media this morning that this progress was going to happen and it shouldn’t be this way to be frank in which the family are left fighting a public battle for a basic requirement in a case like this.”
“I would be disappointed if the full report is not released to the family,” said Mr Mackin. “The UN is no different than any other public body or international body. Their obligation is to provide all the information to the coroner, they can and make raise legitimate concerns for example national security or methodology. All relevant material should be provided to the coroner.”
Mr Mackin believes that the initial report that Pte Rooney took a wrong turn which led him and his colleagues into harm’s way, which he called a “noxious narrative”, will be left wanting when the UN report is released.
“I believe the report and indeed the initial soundings from parts of the United Nations investigation point clearly in the direction of systemic failings and on that basis we have always sought access to the United Nations report that is one of many crucial pieces of evidence in this case that need to be accessed and considered. Only when all the relevant pieces of information are accessed and considered collectively can the truth be told,” he reiterated.
However, he urged a degree of caution with regard to the criminal process in Lebanon and how it should be approached, and in that vein how important the role of an inquest is.
“I think we all know the difficulties that process faces, that is why the inquest for the family is of fundamental importance. It is an independent investigation that complies with International standards, it complies with international human rights standards and allows the family to engage in a process which allows them to access the material, allows them to ask the relevant questions and allows them a forum to which an independent conclusion can be reached,” Mr Mackin concluded.
A second anniversary mass will be held at 6.30pm on Saturday, December 14th, in Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal.
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