Suspected killer of Private Seán Rooney arrested in Lebanon

A man suspected of killing Private Seán Rooney is understood to have been arrested by authorities in Lebanon.

Hezbollah, the Iranian-linked Shia militia, is believed to have handed the man over to security forces in Lebanon on Christmas Day.

A security official is quoted as telling Agence France-Presse (AFP) that 'the main shooter' was arrested after being given over Hezbollah.

Since the killing of Private Rooney on December 14, the group has repeatedly denied involvement.

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Wafiq Safa, the head of Hezbollah's internal security, described it as an 'unintentional incident'.

Two suspects were identified by investigators probing the killing of the 24-year-old peacekeeper.

A Lebanese military investigation – one of three being carried out – picked out the two individuals. It is not clear if the arrested man is one of those initially identified.

Private Rooney was serving with the 121st Infantry Battalion of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Private Rooney, a Dundalk native who lived in Newtowncunningham, was driving a UN-marked armoured utility vehicle, which came under attack in the Al-Aqbieh area of south Lebanon after becoming separated from an accompanying vehicle.

Private Rooney's AUV came under fire. The vehicle overturned and Private Rooney was shot dead.

Preliminary findings by Lebanese officials – who have spent the last nine days interviewing witnesses and locals - is understood to suggest that the attack was 'premeditated'.

They now believe that the Irish vehicle was watched and followed by a vehicle containing armed men.

Private Rooney's vehicle was intercepted at two locations before the fatal incident occurred at around 9.15pm Irish time.

Al-Aqbieh is an area controlled by Hezbollah and outside UNIFIL's area of operations.

Rami Mortada, the Lebanese Ambassador to the UK and Ireland, attended Private Rooney's Funeral Mass in Dundalk on Thursday.

Mr Mortada spoke with the bereaved family and said he 'expressed our profound dismay and sympathy along with our commitment to unveil the whole truth behind this abominous act'.

Two other investigations are simultaneously being carried out, one by the UN and another by the Defence Forces .

The investigation of the Defence Forces is being supported by An Garda Siochana.

Two detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and another from the Garda Technical Bureau, a ballistics expert, have travelled to Lebanon.

Private Rooney, described by his mother Natasha McCloskey as a 'national hero', was buried with full military honours on Thursday afternoon.