FAMILY OF RENMORE SOLDIER DISSAPPOINTED FOLLOWING REPORT ON DEATH

Date Published: 19-Sep-2011

The families of three Irish soldiers killed while on a UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon 22 years ago, say they are disappointed that nobody is being held to account for their deaths.

Corporal Fintan Heneghan from Ballinrobe was based at Dún Uí Mhaolíosa in Renmore.

He was killed along with Privates Mannix Armstrong and Thomas Walsh – both from Sligo – when a roadside landmine exploded in March 1989.

An independent inquiry into the incident says their deaths "could and should have been avoided."

It says there was a systemic failure by both the Irish Defence Forces and the UN to undertake an adequate threat assessment.

The Justice and Defence Minister Alan Shatter and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Sean McCann have both apologised to the men’s families.