A SOLDIER injured during a melee outside a Dublin city disco early yesterday has died in hospital from head injuries.
Private Darrell Reilly (39), a father of four boys, from Drogheda, had been celebrating with other soldiers about to leave for a six month tour of duty with the UN in Lebanon.
According to witnesses, a dispute occurred around 2 a.m. as people were leaving Rumours disco in O'Connell Street, and Private Reilly was seen to fall and strike his head on the pavement.
A fellow soldier and friend of Private Reilly, from the 27th Infantry Battalion, based in Aiken Barracks, Dundalk, was questioned yesterday by gardai.
This soldier was released after questioning but it is understood he will not now be travelling to Lebanon with the contingent duet to leave for duty next week.
According to other soldiers, soldier who was questioned called an ambulance and accompanied Private Reilly to the Mater Hospital. He later agreed to be interviewed by gardai.
Private Reilly was due to fly out to Lebanon next week as part of the 81st Battalion to serve with UNIFIL. He had already completed three tours of duty in Lebanon and would have been stationed at the Irish "A" Company headquarters, in the village of Al Yatun. The parade for the 81st Battalion takes place in McKee Barracks today.
Elaine Keogh adds:
Private Reilly's family said he loved his job and was looking forward to going to Lebanon. His widowed mother, Ms Nancy Reilly, said: "I am broken hearted. It's a terrible shock. He was in a coma since it happened."
Ms Reilly said gardai had called to the family home early yesterday and said he was dangerously ill. He was separated from his wife.
"All his friends are in the Army. He goes for six months and comes home and then goes back again. He is our adopted son, we had him from the time he was nine. We got him from the Sisters of Charity and took him and loved him and looked after him."
Private Reilly joined the Defence Forces after working as a barman.