Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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509. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the measures being taken to obtain justice for the families of persons (details supplied). [21723/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The matter to which the Deputy is referring is the case of the deaths of Private Thomas Barrett and Private Derek Smallhorne who were murdered, and Private John O'Mahony who was seriously injured while serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on 18 April 1980. In July 2014 the alleged perpetrator, Mr. Mahmoud Bazzi, who had been residing in the United States was arrested for administrative immigration violations. Following an immigration court hearing in August, the Judge ruled that Mr. Bazzi be deported to Lebanon. Mr Bazzi was deported from the United States to his native Lebanon on 30 January 2015. On arrival in Beirut, Mr. Bazzi was arrested and detained by the Lebanese authorities where he remains in custody.

The Irish Government have requested the support of the Lebanese Government in seeking justice for the murdered Irish UNIFIL peacekeepers, should such action be feasible. During my visit to the Lebanon last December, I met with the Lebanese authorities at the most senior levels of Government and highlighted the Irish Government’s continued commitment and interest in progressing this case.

It is now a matter for the Lebanese authorities to investigate the case and to determine any future action in accordance with their national legislation and judicial procedures. The Irish Ambassador in the region is continuing to monitor developments in the case and is in contact with the Department of Defence on a regular basis.

The Department of Defence is also maintaining contact with the Barrett and Smallhorne families in relation to the case.