A 35-year-old Irishman wounded in a gun battle in Iraq in which 22 of his 28 companions were killed has returned home to his family in Co Cork and is now awaiting medical assessment of his injuries.
Pádraig O'Keeffe from Cobh suffered a bullet wound to the thigh and a shrapnel wound to the jaw while he also suffered a perforated ear drum in the attack by a group of insurgents outside Baghdad on June 7th.
Mr O'Keeffe - who had five years experience serving with the French Foreign Legion in Africa and elsewhere - was working as a security expert with private British security company, Hart Group, when their convoy came under attack.
At Cork airport yesterday afternoon he was greeted by his parents, Denis and Eileen and his nieces, Katelyn (9), Erin (8) and Saoirse (5) before returning to the family home in Cobh.
Last night, Denis O'Keeffe spoke of the family's relief at Pádraig's return and said that although his son is facing surgery for his wounds over the coming days, they are confident that he will make a good recovery.
"He'll probably need surgery on both his face and his thigh but considering the whole scenario and everything he's been through, he's in good form and just trying to get a bit of rest here at home now," said Mr O'Keeffe Snr.
