A former teacher of Private Seán Roooney, who was killed while serving with the Irish army in Lebanon, has described him as a “great young man”.
From Newtowncunningham in Co Donegal, Private Rooney (23) was fatally injured when the armoured utility vehicle he was travelling in came under fire. The Donegal man, who had been in the Irish army since 2019, was on his second UN peace-keeping tour of duty to Lebanon.
Principal of St Eunan’s college in Letterkenny, Damien McCroary said Private Rooney was a pupil at St Eunan’s from 2014 to 2017 during which time he had taught him.
“He came to us in Transition Year and was very popular with all the staff. We only heard about the tragedy this morning. At first we heard about an Irish soldier and then we heard he was one of our own.
“I personally taught him and I remember him as having a great personality. He was a great young man,” Mr McCroary said.
The Donegal school principal said prayers would be said at St Eunan’s for Private Rooney and his family in the coming days.
Fianna Fáil councillor for the area, Paul Canning, who knew Private Rooney and his family, said the entire area was in shock. Mr Canning said Private Rooney’s mother was inconsolable and was struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
“The family have been living in Newtown for the past ten or twelve years. It’s a fine young life taken while serving his country on peace-keeping duties. All our sympathies are with Seán’s family and his girlfriend who was from Derry and his neighbours in Newtown,” Mr Canning said.
