Irish killed on UN duty honoured

A ceremony for the 89 Irishmen who died while on UN peacekeeping missions was also a reminder that life continued despite tragedy and loss, Lieut Gen Dermot Earley, chief of staff of the Defence Forces, said yesterday at Arbour Hill.

"As we speak, members of our Defence Forces, of Garda Síochána, and many of our civilian population are continuing the proud tradition of conflict resolution all over the world in the service of the United Nations," he said. Soldiers were "in serious preparation for the possible operation to Chad later this year and early next year. And today our soldiers are in the Arctic Circle in training for possible deployment as part of the Nordic battle group in 2008," he added.

Yesterday's wreath-laying ceremony was organised by the Irish UN Veterans' Association at the UN Memorial Garden. The first wreath was laid by Dublin's mayor, Cllr Paddy Bourke, on behalf of the people of Dublin.

Wreaths were laid in memory of members of the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána and civilian personnel. A wreath was laid on behalf of An Garda Síochána by Supt Maura Lernihan who served in Cyprus.

Wreaths were also laid in memory of Pte Peter Burke, Cpl Gregory Morrow and Pte Thomas Murphy, who were shot dead in Lebanon by a fellow soldier, Michael McAleavey, 25 years ago this year.

Lieut Gen Earley noted that next year would mark the 50th anniversary of the State's first involvement in UN peacekeeping, in Lebanon. Irish members had since served in places such as Congo, Cyprus, East Timor, Liberia, Namibia, Eritrea, the Balkans and Somalia.

Company Sgt Felix Grant was the first to die on UN duty. He died in Congo on October 3rd, 1960. The most recent death was in Liberia when Sgt Derec Mooney was killed in a road accident on November 27th, 2003.

Yesterday's ceremony was attended by members of bodies such as the Royal British Legion (ROI), the Irish Guards' Association, The Royal Air Force Association, the US Embassy Defence Attaché Office and the Irish United Nations Association.