Cork's Trooper Shane Kearney discharged from hospital to continue recovery at home
Trooper óglaigh Héireann Kearney Who Shane The Na Injured Was In Picture: Lebanon
UN peacekeeper Trooper Shane Kearney is being discharged from Beaumont Hospital where he had been recovering following an attack on Irish soldiers in Lebanon.
Tpr Kearney, from Killeagh in East Cork, was seriously injured after the convoy he and his comrades were in came under attack in December.
His colleague, Private Seán Rooney, was killed in the attack.
Tpr Kearney was flown back to Ireland on December 21 and taken to Beaumont Hospital to continue receiving medical treatment.
In an update on Friday, the Defence Forces said the 22-year-old is well enough to continue his recovery at home.
A spokesperson said: "He still requires further medical treatment later in the year but the medical staff are satisfied with his continued and steady progress to allow him to continue his recuperation at home with his family."
Last January, Lebanon’s military tribunal has charged seven suspects in relation to the attack on the convoy.
The shooting took place near the town of Al-Aqbiya in southern Lebanon, a centre of support for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which has denied any role in the killing.
In late December, the Lebanese military arrested a suspect, allegedly “in co-operation with Hezbollah”, according to the group, which said the man was not a Hezbollah member.
The arrested man and six others were charged over the attack, according to a judicial official familiar with the investigation, a legal official following the case, and a military official.
The officials said a search is under way for the other six suspects and that officials are trying to determine whether they had left the country.
Last week, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin visited Ireland’s peacekeeping troops at Camp Shamrock and laid a wreath at a memorial to Pte Rooney.
Mr Martin reiterated that the Government is “absolutely determined” to see those responsible for Mr Rooney’s death to be brought to justice, and encouraged the soldiers to use support services available to them.
He also met the Lebanese ministers for foreign affairs and defence, Dr Abdullah Bou Habib and Maurice Sleem, in Beirut.