HUNDREDS attended a special vigil in Cork for Armed Forces personnel injured in Lebanon – and to pray for the family of Private Sean Rooney (23) who died in the incident.
The vigil was held in East Cork’s Killeagh, the home village of trooper Shane Kearney, 22, who was seriously injured in the shooting late Wednesday night as a group of Irish peacekeepers traveled in a convoy to return home for Christmas leave.
His father, Paudie, lit a special candle of hope at the vigil as Father Tim Hazelwood urged everyone to pray for the young man’s recovery and for the Rooney family who are grieving a terrible loss.
Trooper Kearney remains in a serious but stable condition at the UN-run Hammoud Hospital after emergency surgery.
Two other unnamed soldiers suffered minor injuries.
A special vigil was organized to show local solidarity with his family, including his parents, Padraig ‘Paudie’ and Phil, and sister Amy.
Hundreds gathered outside the church of St John the Baptist in Killeagh, many carrying candles.
The crowd included hundreds of local residents, defense troops and UN veterans who had traveled from all over Munster to show their support for the Kearney family.
Members of the Organization of National Ex-Servicemen (ONE) and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) attended.
More than 50 colleagues from Trooper Kearney from Collins Barracks in Cork attended as Cmdt. Claire Mortimer represented Taoiseach Michael Martin.
The government was represented by Deputy Minister Mary Butler.
Father Hazelwood said the incident had shocked everyone locally.
“When the going gets tough, God is on our side and that’s our prayer for Shane here tonight,” he said.
“This is a service of hope and we are praying for Shane’s recovery and I would like to invite Paudie to light a candle of hope as we all pray for Shane.”
Killeagh GAA Chairman Ger Scully said the Kearney family was held in very high esteem locally and everyone in the community was determined to support them.
Killeagh is near the home of Cork East TD James O’Connor and he said everyone on site was praying for the soldiers and their families.
Mr O’Connor played youth swing with Shane.
“It was a huge shock to everyone in the community,” he said.
“This is a small, close-knit community and everyone here will gather to support the family and everyone affected by this.”
Shane was a talented pitcher with Killeagh GAA and played for them at the youth level.
His father is a respected GAA referee in East Cork and heavily involved in the Killeagh GAA club.
Locals said the family was greatly respected in the area and everyone was now praying for Shane’s recovery and safe return home.
Former Cork GAA chairman Tracey Kennedy – a close friend of the Kearney family – said everyone was praying for Shane locally.
“Shane is a dear family friend of ours and his parents would appreciate any and all prayers for his recovery,” she said.