The mother of Private Seán Rooney has hit out at Tánaiste Simon Harris, the Government, and the Lebanese justice system in the wake of a man being sentenced to death in Lebanon for his killing.
Pte Rooney, who was 24 and from Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, was killed while on United Nations peacekeeping duty when the armoured vehicle he was driving from south Lebanon to Beirut came under fire in December 2022. Several others were injured in the attack.
On Monday, a tribunal in Lebanon sentenced the main defendant in the case, Mohammad Ayyad, to death. He was absent from the proceedings as he was convicted at the military court on Monday, it is understood.
Others were given lighter sentences.
Both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste welcomed the conviction of the main defendant, but hit out at the lighter sentences issued. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it was “unsatisfactory” that the main defendant is still at large.
In a statement on Thursday, however, Natasha Rooney criticised both the tribunal and the response from Ireland.
Ms Rooney described the court proceedings in Lebanon as a “sham”, saying that what happened in the tribunal was “not justice” and was “unreflective of what we regard as a trial process”.
“The trial into the murder of my son was heard and determined in less than half a day,” she stated. “Not only was justice not done, it was not seen to be done, with little to no information being disclosed or challenged in open court.
“Instead, we are forced to believe the answers provided by a Lebanese justice system which, from the outset, has failed to hold those responsible to account.”
She said her son’s “legacy has been tarnished with fake news and false narratives”.
“The factual reality here is that the perpetrator who has been convicted for my son’s murder has been untraceable and untraced for many years,” she stated. “Not only did he not appear for his trial, but it is clear that he might never appear.
“The verdict, in reality, is nothing more than a headline to the Lebanese authorities who masquerade this sham trial process as a semblance of justice for my son.”
The statement, issued by Phoenix Law on behalf of Ms Rooney, went on to say: “In what other country would accomplices to the murder of a peacekeeping soldier be sentenced to monetary fines? To the Lebanese courts, assisting in the murder of my son is worth nothing more than $1,200. Whilst hurt and disappointed, I expected nothing less from a Government that is run hand in glove with a terrorist organisation.
Ms Rooney added: “I did, however, expect more from the very country to whom my son died wearing with pride his native flag.”
“You would be forgiven for reading the Irish Government’s response as one of victory for justice. Again, whilst such utterances are disappointing, they are unsurprising.
“In a country where victims’ rights ought to be paramount, it would perhaps be wise for the Tánaiste to speak to me, before seeking to speak for me, in his public statements.”
Ms Rooney said that she was not angry, but determined to ensure justice for her son, “and to highlight the uncomfortable truths about the systematic failings by the United Nations, the Irish Defence Forces, and the Lebanese justice system.
“That is the very least I owe my son Sean,” she stated. “It is the very least I owe Sean’s comrades. And it is the very least the Irish justice system owes us all.”
In response, Tánaiste Simon Harris said that he looks forward to meeting with Mrs Rooney.
Mr Harris said: “I cannot imagine the pain and suffering experienced by Rooney family. As I said after the military tribunal, I was deeply disappointed at some of the lighter sentences imposed.
“I look forward to meeting Mrs Rooney and arrangements are underway to ensure this happens. Above all, I want to support her quest for justice in any way I possibly can.”