Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I express our deepest sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues of Private Seán Rooney. I wish a speedy recover to Shane Kearney and the others who were injured and traumatised by what I understand was a very hostile situation and serious incident. Irish peacekeepers are recognised all over the world. I visited Lebanon with Deputy Noel Grealish some years ago and heard first-hand how they are held in high regard, as they are in many other areas of the world where they have served, going back to the Congo and beyond. My hometown, Clonmel, had a proud tradition with an Army barracks. There is a huge connection with the people. When we heard this chilling news, whether late last night or early in the morning, we immediately thought of the families. There are a number of families from my village, including the Corcoran family and the Fitzpatrick family in the next village, Castlegrace, with members who are on that mission, but they are thankfully well. They will need our support, prayers and continued counselling, because it was and will be traumatic, especially with the time of year, as we approach the holy season of Christmas. It is so difficult. It reminds us of the vulnerability of our proud Óglaigh na hÉireann. We must make sure it is a peacekeeping role that they maintain and will continue to do that, not other ideas that people may have for them, because life is too precious. A young, gallant man has had his life swept away and others have been injured. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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