The tragic death of Private Sean Rooney in Lebanon marks the first Irish peacekeeper death in combat in the region since 1999.
The 23 year old was a member of the UN’s 10,000-strong mission, Unifil. It was established in 1978 after Israel invaded Lebanon, and members of the Irish defence forces helped to protect communities as the Israelis retreated.
It’s understood Pte Rooney died from a gunshot wound after the vehicle became surrounded by an angry mob near the coastal down of Al Aqbieh on the night of Wednesday, 14th December.
But why would the UN vehicle be the target of such ire? And what has caused the ratcheting up of tension in the Hizbullah-controlled region? The political and militant group denies responsibility for the killing and three separate inquiries are now underway.
Drug poisoning caused 48% of homeless deaths in Ireland, study shows
Rise in personal injury claims by pedestrians and other vulnerable road users
Gardaí investigating murder of Michael Gaine release man held for questioning
Gardaí deny Richard Satchwell was forced to do ‘perp walk’ after being charged with murder
Crime and Security Correspondent, Conor Gallagher, and retired Lieutenant Colonel and military historian, Dan Harvey, frame the conflict and analyse the threat on this episode of In The News.
Presented by Aideen Finnegan.
