Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

70. To ask the Minister for Defence if he is monitoring the trial of the alleged perpetrator of the murder of Irish United Nations peacekeepers and the attempted murder of a person (details supplied); and if he is satisfied with the pace and quality of the legal process. [2790/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 2014 the Judge ruled that Mr. Bazzi be deported to Lebanon as he admitted that he entered the United States in 1994 without proper documentation. He 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.

On 26 June 2015, the trial of Mr. Mahmoud Bazzi commenced before the Military Tribunal, in Beirut, Lebanon.  Following deliberations the President of the Military Tribunal, adjourned the Session to 25 November 2015. 

When the Military Tribunal resumed in November 2015 it heard evidence from Ex-Private John O’Mahony who was seriously injured during the incident in which his colleagues lost their lives. Mr. O’Mahony was cross-examined by defence counsel. The case was then adjourned for a second time and with the next hearing scheduled to take place on 20th April 2016. The Department of Defence has engaged the services of a senior legal adviser in Lebanon to support the Department and the Irish Government in advancing this case. He has advised that the trial proceedings are a matter for the President of the Tribunal similar to the role and prerogative of the Judge in Irish Courts. He has indicated that there may be a number of reasons the adjournments have taken place including the need to bring further witnesses before the Tribunal.

During my recent visit with the Taoiseach 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.