UN to deliver strong protest at killings

Unifil headquarters will today lodge a formal letter of protest with the Israeli Defence Forces after an Irish soldier was killed and two others were injured, one critically, in a mortar attack in south Lebanon.

The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, told the Dail that UN headquarters in New York would also be making a strong protest to the Israeli ambassador to the UN.

He said that following the death of Private Billy Kedian, and the injuries to Private Ronnie Rushe and Private Darren Clarke, an immediate protest was made to the Israeli defence forces.

Mr Smith, who visited Pte Kedian's family in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo yesterday, said arrangements had been made for the family of Pte Rushe, who was critically injured, to travel today to visit him at Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Israel.

Mr Smith was responding to Fine Gael's defence spokeswoman, Ms Frances Fitzgerald, who raised the issue on the adjournment.

She also asked him to accept Fine Gael's Private Member's Bill, the Protection of UN and Associated Personnel Bill, which would allow some legal protection in international law for Irish peace keeping forces around the world.

Mr Smith said that at his request the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, had summoned the Israeli ambassador to Ireland, Mr Zvi Gabay, to protest "in the strongest possible manner".

Mr Andrews had also expressed the Government's grave concern at recent incidents involving firings close to and at Irish battalion positions. "He insisted that there must be an immediate cessation of such incidents."

The ambassador, he said, regretted the loss of life and injury.

Outlining the circumstances of the attack the Minister said that early on Monday morning the Irish battalion sustained two firings close to its position 6-42, and one of the firings impacted within the post. Pte Kedian was killed, Pte Rushe was critically injured and Pte Clarke received superficial injuries.

The first mortar hit 15 metres outside the post and the second within the post. Both were from 81mm mortars.

There were indications that the mortars were fired from the general direction of the Israeli defence forces' de facto force compound W144. "However, I understand that to date the Israeli authorities have not admitted responsibility for the incident."

Ms Fitzgerald said there was now the potential for a more dangerous and volatile period ahead in that area of Lebanon. It was "critical that the Irish Government take every possible action at a political and diplomatic level to ensure that such incidents are not repeated".