Ireland’s Taoiseach Michéal Martin will press Lebanon’s prime minister for accountability in the killing of Private Seán Rooney during talks in Beirut on Friday, while delivering a Christmas message of thanks to Irish peacekeepers serving with the U.N. in south Lebanon.
Martin is expected to raise the case directly with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, underscoring Dublin’s concern that justice remains incomplete nearly two years after Rooney was shot dead while his UNIFIL convoy came under fire on Dec. 14, 2022, as it traveled toward Beirut.
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“Private Seán Rooney gave his life in the cause of peace while serving in Lebanon in 2022,” Martin said ahead of the meeting. “I will raise this case during my meeting with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and will make it clear to him that there must be accountability for Private Rooney’s killing.”
In July, a Lebanese military court found six people guilty of involvement in the attack. The main defendant, Mohammad Ayyad, was sentenced to death in absentia. At the time, Martin called it “unsatisfactory” that Ayyad remained at large.
Martin will also seek an update on an attack on Irish peacekeepers two weeks ago in south Lebanon, when a patrol came under fire within its area of operations. Lebanese authorities have arrested six people in connection with that incident.
Beyond the security casework, the Taoiseach plans to discuss broader bilateral and regional issues, including how Ireland can best support Lebanon as the UNIFIL mission winds down in the coming years. He will meet Irish troops to convey holiday wishes and to thank them for their service over Christmas.
More than 300 members of the Irish Defence Forces are currently deployed with UNIFIL, which monitors activity along the Blue Line, the de facto border between Lebanon and Israel. Irish units help hold ground, support local communities and work alongside the Lebanese Armed Forces amid persistent tensions in the south.
Those tensions have sharpened regional anxieties and complicated UNIFIL’s operating environment. Diplomats and military officials worry that any escalation between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement could further destabilize the border area, placing additional pressure on peacekeepers and civilians.
For Dublin, Rooney’s case remains a litmus test for cooperation with Beirut on security and justice. The government has said clarity and accountability are essential not only for Rooney’s family and colleagues, but also for the safety and morale of Irish personnel serving under the U.N. flag.
Martin’s visit is intended to combine that message with a show of support for UNIFIL’s mission and for Lebanon’s stability. Irish officials say their aim is to see concrete progress on prosecutions while sustaining channels that protect peacekeepers and uphold the U.N. mandate during a volatile period for the region.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
