The Irish soldier who was shot dead in East Timor while on peacekeeping duties earlier today has been named as Private Peadar Flaherty from Trabane near Lettermore in Galway.
The 21-year-old private had been in East Timor since February.
He is said to have been killed after a colleague’s weapon was accidentally discharged.
The private was evacuated by helicopter to a nearby military hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the head.
He was pronounced dead at 11:30 Irish time.
In a statement the Minister for Defence, Mr Michael Smith, said he was "shocked and saddened" to hear of the death
"Private Peadar Flaherty," he said, "who was on patrol at the time, died from a gunshot wound to the head."
"The Minister wishes to offer his sincere condolences to the family and friends of Private Peadar Flaherty and to his colleagues in the 1st Battalion in Galway.
"The death of an Irish peacekeeper is a matter of deep regret and on behalf of the Government I want to extend my condolences to the Flaherty family at this very sad time".
Pte. Flaherty had been a member of the Defence Forces since November 1999.