PRIVATE Seán Rooney and his fiancé Holly McConnellogue were to marry next August, it has been revealed.
From Newtowncunnngham in Co Donegal, Private Rooney (23) was shot dead while on peace-keeping duties with the Irish defence forces in Lebanon on Wednesday night. A heart-broken Ms McConnellogue, from Derry’s Culmore area, said yesterday his death occurred on the third anniversary of their first meeting.
All Irish military barracks were yesterday ordered to lower the national flag to half-staff as a mark of respect. The Irish government has also put the government jet on standby to bring Private Rooney’s remains home as soon as possible.
From a strong military family, Private Rooney’s late father, Cormac, was an Irish soldier. Two of his uncles and a great uncle are also serving members of the Irish army.
The Irish defence forces deployed a specialist team to join United Nations staff who are investigating the circumstances of Private Rooney’s death. The Donegal man was driving one of two armoured SUVs back to base on Wednesday night when they became separated.
The fatal attack occurred as Private Rooney’s vehicle travelled through the village of Al-Aqbiyah which is controlled by Hezbollah. It is understood the vehicle overturned as Private Rooney tried to escape gunfire and became surrounded by a hostile mob. It is not clear if he was shot while inside the vehicle or outside. A colleague, Trooper Shane Kearney (22) from Cork was also seriously injured while two other officers suffered less serious injuries.
Investigators are trying to establish whether Private Rooney’s death was as a result of an “opportunistic attack” or a planned raid.
As his family struggle to come to terms with his death, his fiancé Ms McConnellogue revealed the couple were planning for their wedding next August. Ms McConnellogue told The Irish Times her last contact was a message on Wednesday just before he left on his final journey.
“I’m absolutely heartbroken and it hasn’t sunk in yet that he’s gone but I at least know that he died doing what he loved and serving his country. We met three years ago yesterday (Wednesday), three years to the day he died. He was a fantastic person to be with,” she said.
She also revealed that he had volunteered for a second peace-keeping tour in Lebanon to raise money for their wedding.
The United Nations Security Council held a minute’s silence in New York. Flowers have also been left at Aiken Barracks in Dundalk where he was stationed. Private Rooney lived in Dundalk for a period as a child before moving to Donegal around 12 years ago.
Bishop of Raphoe, Alan McGuckian said Private Rooney made the “supreme sacrifice” and gave his life in the service of peace and reconciliation in a “troubled world”.
"His tragic death reminds us of the great service and sacrifice that the men and women of our defence forces make in their work of promoting peace and reconciliation in our world, often in the face of great danger to themselves," he said.
“We pray for his fellow soldier, Private Shane Kearney who was injured and remember his family at this difficult time.”
He added that prayers were being offered for Private Rooney in all churches in the county. He said the Irish defence forces and all who served on peace-keeping duties around the world had lost a “true friend and colleague”. He offered his condolences to Private Rooney’s family and friends.
Private Rooney is the first Irish soldier to die on a UN peace-keeping tour in more than 20 years.
