'We are with you in your pain and loss:' Bishop of Raphoe expresses sympathy over death of Private Séan Rooney

Bishop McGuckian said: “On behalf of the Diocese of Raphoe and the people of Donegal, I express my great sadness upon hearing of the tragic death of Private Séan Rooney in Lebanon. Séan died as a committed member of our Defence Forces, serving as a peacekeeper under the United Nations with the 121st Infantry Battalion.

“With absolute commitment Séan has made the supreme sacrifice and has given his life in service of peace and reconciliation in our 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. We pray for his fellow soldier, Private Shane Kearney who was injured, and remember his family at this difficult time. We hold within our hearts the sense of loss that Séan’s death will have on his many colleagues in the defence forces, those within the 121st Battalion especially, and all those that serve on Peace keeping duties around the world. They have lost a true friend and colleague.

“Séan's passing in these circumstances is a terrible blow to his immediate family and the communities of Newtowncunningham and Dundalk; it is especially difficult as we approach Christmas.

“Our prayers and thoughts are with Séan's family here in Donegal and in Dundalk, and we will remember him in all our churches in the time ahead. On behalf of myself and the people of the diocese I offer our deepest sympathies. We pray that Séan’s loved ones get the strength, comfort and hope that they need in this devastating time. We say to them: ‘You are not alone. We are with you in your pain and loss. God be with you.’

Numerous tributes have been paid to Private Rooney, an Irish soldier from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), who was killed in an attack in Lebanon on Wednesday night. Private Rooney joined the Defence Forces in March 2019 and his home unit is the 27 Infantry Battalion in Dundalk. He previously served overseas with the 119 Infantry Battalion UNIFIL.