The trial of Hezbollah members accused of killing the Irish peacekeeper, Sean Rooney, in South Lebanon on December 14, 2022 – and attempting to kill three of his fellow soldiers – was once again postponed.
One of the accused, Mohammed Ayyad – who was in custody and was released in November 2023 – failed for the third time to show up to the trial scheduled for Friday. His attorney presented a medical report stating that he was in the hospital.
The military tribunal held a hearing – led by General Khalil Jaber – for the case of the Irish UNIFIL soldier killing, in the presence of the Irish Ministry of Defense attorney, Joe Karam, the Irish ambassador in Cairo, Beirut and Palestine, Nuala O’brien (who travelled from Egypt specifically to attend the trial), the honorary consul of Ireland in Lebanon, George Siam, and the government’s delegate to the military tribunal, Judge Roland Chartouni.
Ayyad will be tried in propria persona, alongside six other accused, whose verdict will be pronounced in absentia. These individuals are Ali Hassan Khalifeh, Ali Hussein Suleiman, Hussein Hassan Khalifeh, Mustafa Hassan Khalifeh, Ali Ahmad Hakim and Muhammad Ahmad Mezher. As per a court order made by military investigative judge Fadi Sawan, the six men were accused of “having established a criminal association in December 2022, in order to commit crimes against people, undermine the State’s authority, and coordinate the killing of the Irish soldier and the attempted killing of 3 of his comrades, by ambushing the Irish UNIFIL patrol in South Lebanon. The aforementioned individuals opened fire using unlicensed firearms in the South Lebanon town of Al-Akibia, then proceeded to destroy the military vehicle.”
The court order also accused another armed group – whose members are still unknown – of chasing another patrol of the Irish contingent, firing at it, taking pictures of its soldiers and attempting to kill them.
Ayyad’s lawyer was quick to present the medical report, according to which his client is “present in the Ragheb Harb hospital in the South, and is receiving treatment for a health condition he is suffering from.” Subsequently, the court decided to send a memorandum to the hospital, asking for Ayyad’s full medical file with information on his condition, treatment and the duration of his stay. The hearing was adjourned to February 12, 2025.
On June 1, 2023, Lebanon’s military court charged five Hezbollah members with the killing of the Irish peacekeeper.
According to its indictment, the five individuals “formed a criminal association aiming at implementing a criminal project.”
Under the Lebanese penal code, they face the death penalty.
