The head of Lebanon’s Maronite Church joined the government in condemning the killing of a Irish United Nations peacekeeper, saying he came to “protect the peace of the south” and was killed by a bullet of “hatred”.
Patriarch Bechara Boutrous al Rai during his Sunday sermon deplored the death of 24-year-old Private Seán Rooney, who was killed on duty in Lebanon when he was attacked by gunfire, alongside three other peacekeepers who were wounded.
“We offer condolences to his friendly country and family, the Irish contingent and the commander and soldiers of the international forces,” Rai said.
He urged for a thorough and transparent investigation and said that the incident “distorts the face of Lebanon”.
Pte Rooney was killed by a bullet to the head when he and three other peacekeepers were attacked in a violent altercation in the southern town of Sarafand, outside the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) area of operation.
When the light armoured patrol vehicle driven by Pte Rooney took an unexpected route during a routine trip to Beirut airport, the soldiers encountered a blockade of locals who were angered by the sight of the peacekeepers’ vehicle, preliminary investigations reported.
Trooper Shane Kearney suffered head wounds and remains in a serious condition in hospital, while the other two injured men have been discharged.
On Sunday, UNIFIL, alongside the Lebanese Army, held a small memorial service at Beirut airport before Pte Rooney’s body was flown home to Ireland, where a funeral is due to be held this week.
Three separate investigations are under way by the authorities of Ireland, Lebanon and the UN.
Locals in the area of Sarafand were shocked by the incident and told The Tablet that UN peacekeepers and the south historically have a warm relationship.
The force has patrolled the southern border zone between Lebanon and Israel since 1978, following Israel's invasion of Lebanon during their civil war. There have been sporadic attacks on peacekeepers in the past and it is widely regarded that their presence in the area, a stronghold of the Iran-backed Shia Muslim group Hezbollah, is not without contention.
A statement on behalf of the Irish bishops from the Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin, and the Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, offered prayers for Private Rooney's soul and for his family.
“Private Rooney’s bravery, honour and commitment to peace will never be forgotten,” they said.
The Bishop of Raphoe, Alan McGuckan, also issued a statement of condolence from the people of Private Rooney's native Donegal.
Last week Lebanon, which has the highest proportion of Christians in the Arab world, held an inaugural meeting for the patriarchs of the Syriac Orthodox Churches at the invitation of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Mar Ignatious Aphrem II.
The patriarchs of the Syrian Catholic Church, the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq, the Assyrian Church of the East in Iraq, among others, gathered to discuss the importance of the ancient Syriac heritage and its steadfast roots in the Middle East. The patriarchs called for peace and stability in the “cradle of Christianity”.
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