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Grieving Mother Slams Irish Tánaiste Over Son's Murder Verdict
31 Jul
Summary
- Mother "extremely disappointed" with Lebanese court verdict
- Tánaiste's comments "not reflective of justice" for her son
- Soldier died protecting comrades in Lebanon peacekeeping mission
In a tragic turn of events, the mother of Private Seán Rooney, an Irish soldier killed while serving in a UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, has expressed her deep disappointment with the recent court verdict. According to the article, a Lebanese court last month convicted several men for her son's murder, but the sentences handed down have left Ms. Rooney feeling that "what happened in Lebanon was not justice."
Natasha Rooney, the grieving mother, has taken issue with comments made by Tánaiste Simon Harris, who welcomed the convictions but acknowledged the "lighter sentences" imposed on some of the defendants. Ms. Rooney has stated that it would be "wise" for the Tánaiste to speak with her directly before making public statements on the matter, as she feels his remarks do not reflect the true nature of the proceedings.
The article further details that Private Rooney, a 24-year-old from Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, was killed when the UN peacekeeping convoy he was traveling in was attacked near the town of Al-Aqbiya in southern Lebanon, a stronghold of the militant group Hezbollah. Trooper Shane Kearney was also seriously wounded in the incident.
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Despite the convictions, Ms. Rooney remains determined to seek justice for her son's murder, stating that the "truth and justice for his murder is the very least he deserves." She has vowed to continue pushing for accountability, as she believes the trial process was flawed and failed to properly hold those responsible to account.