Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I would like to take this opportunity on my behalf and that of Deputy Imelda Munster to add our condolences to the family, friends and comrades of Private Seán Rooney, who died carrying out peacekeeping for the UN in Lebanon. He made the ultimate sacrifice, as did Private Michael McNeela in 1989, who was also from Dundalk. Seán Rooney grew up in Dundalk. He lived there until about the time of his junior certificate and he has huge family connections with the Defence Forces. His home unit is the 27th Infantry Battalion in Dundalk. He and his mother relocated to Donegal when he was 15 but he spent a considerable amount of his life in Dundalk and had relocated back to Dundalk.

Our thoughts are also with the injured, in particular with Private Shane Kearney. We know that there will be an investigation at some stage. My thoughts are with the family of Private Rooney, in particular, with his mother, Natasha, his grandparents Eugene and Rachel, whom I would know very well, and a considerable number of his friends and family friends who have contacted me this morning. It is completely devastating news. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.

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