THE Government is waiting for a report about the Israeli landmine which injured six Irish soldiers in south Lebanon before deciding on any diplomatic protest against Israel. One of the soldiers, Private Gary Maloney (23), from Ennis, Co Clare, has had his left leg amputated beneath the knee. It is believed he stepped on an anti personnel mine planted near an Irish UN position.
The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Spring, said his Department was "closely monitoring" the situation with the Defence Forces and he was awaiting further reports.
The Minister for Defence, Mr Barrett, said he abhorred the use of landmines, particularly in a UN peacekeeping zone. He spoke to the Irish officer commanding in south Lebanon, Lieut Cot Dermot Earley. The Government may make a protest to the Israeli ambassador but there was no indication of immediate diplomatic activity yesterday.
Both the Irish Red Cross and Pax Christi joined in condemnation of the use of landmines yesterday. The Republic is one of the states which supports the banning of antipersonnel mines which, the Red Cross estimates, kill or injures 2,000 civilians around the world every month.
Mines planted by the Israeli defence forces in south Lebanon have threatened the civilian community and UN peacekeepers over the past 20 years.
Private Maloney and a group of other soldiers were attempting to clear an area surrounding the Irish occupied Position 620, near Beit Yahoun, which had been mined by the Israelis since February, stopping all ground movement into the position.
After protracted negotiations, an operation to clear the road to the Irish position began last week. Ordnance officers and engineers had located four mines on Saturday morning and were in the process of destroying them when an explosion occurred.
Although there was no confirmation yesterday, it is believed Private Maloney may have stepped on an antipersonnel mine white preparing to clear the area for the controlled explosion.
The other five soldiers, Capt Gary Evans, Newbridge, Co Kildare; Capt Declan Rasmussen, Cork; Cpl Brian White, Youghal; Sgt Richard Walker, Limerick, and Cpl Alan Robson, Dublin, were not seriously injured. Four were discharged from hospital yesterday.