The Minister for Defence and for Foreign Affairs has visited the family of Private Seán Rooney in Dundalk, Co Louth.

Simon Coveney expressed his profound sorrow on behalf of the Government and the people of Ireland for the loss of Private Rooney while serving the State and the United Nations as a peacekeeper.

Minister Coveney pledged all ongoing support to the family, including the swift repatriation of Private Rooney. He said every avenue, through both lrish and international investigations, will be followed to get to the truth about the killing of Private Rooney.

Meanwhile, flags in all military installations are at half-mast and will remain so until Private Seán Rooney is buried.

People are also continuing to lay flowers outside Aiken Barracks in Dundalk in memory of Private Séan Rooney.

The 24-year-old, who grew up in Dundalk but has connections to Newtowncunningham in Co Donegal also, was shot dead while serving with the 121st Infantry Battalion on a UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon this week.

Their convoy of two vehicles carrying eight soldiers came under attack from villagers at a roadblock along the Mediterranean coast on their way to Beirut at around 9pm on Wednesday night.

He is the first Irish soldier to die on a UNIFIL mission in over 20 years.

Private Séan Rooney was 24 years old

His colleague, 23-year-old Trooper Shane Kearney from Cork, was badly injured remains in a critical condition in hospital. Last night in his home village of Killeagh, hundreds of people gathered at a mass in the local church to pray for him.

A multidisciplinary team is being sent to Lebanon to assist in the UNIFIL investigation into the attack, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin warning that getting to the truth would be challenging.

Arrangements are being made to repatriate the body of Private Rooney.

Commandant Gemma Fagan of the Defence Forces Press Office said said there are procedures to be gone through and there is no time frame at present, but they want to get him home to his family as soon as possible.

She thanked the Irish nation for its support and said media speculation about what happened is not helpful.

She said the 121st Battalion still has a job to do and will continue going out on patrols and performing its duties while receiving every support available.

Injured Trooper Shane Kearney

Marist College Secondary School in Dundalk, where Private Rooney was a pupil, has said it was shocked and saddened by the news of his death.

A statement from the school today described him as a "lovely student, who had a very caring and supportive nature".

"He enjoyed school life inside and outside the classroom, loved team sports and played football for the College," the statement said.

"Seán was very popular with his peers and staff alike. He had a strong sense of community and was very giving to social outreach events in the College, especially charity events like the Christmas hampers and Shoe box appeal".

Lebanese forces secure the area where the UNIFIL convoy came under small arms fire

Bishop of Raphoe Alan McGuckian said Private Rooney and his family will be remembered in churches this month, as would injured Private Kearney.

At a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York yesterday, a minute's silence was held to honour Private Rooney.

Commanding Officer of the 27th Infantry Battalion in Dundalk Lieutenant Colonel Frank Colclough said a liaison officer was appointed immediately to the family of Private Rooney.

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Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said the news of Private Rooney's death was delivered to his mother in Buncrana, Co Donegal in the early hours of yesterday morning.

"Bringing this shocking and tragedy news. No one can prepare for that situation," Lt Col Colclough said.

He added that he hopes to speak with Private Rooney's mother Natasha today and reassure her that the support of the Defence Forces is behind her and her family at this time.

He described how Private Rooney's family is rooted in the Defence Forces, with three of his uncles also members of the force.

He said Private Rooney had been in the Defence Forces for three years and undertook many courses as he referred to the young soldier as having a huge amount of "skill and qualification".

He said he embarked on his first trip serving overseas last year.

Additional reporting by Eileen Magnier