A joint UN and Army investigation is under way in Liberia to determine the cause of a road traffic accident in the west African country on Thursday afternoon in which an Irish soldier was killed.
Sgt Derek Mooney (33) died when the Land-Rover in which he was travelling left the road about 40 km south east of the capital Monrovia at 4 p.m. He was immediately flown to a Dutch medical ship, The Rotterdam, moored off Monrovia, but died during surgery.
The President, Mrs McAleese, and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, both extended their sympathies to the Mooney family.
The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, and the Chief of Staff of the defence forces, Lieut Gen Colm Mangan, called to the home of Sgt Mooney's parents yesterday to offer their sympathies.
Sgt Mooney was from Blackrock, Dublin, and was based in the Curragh, Co Kildare. He was a single man and formed part of the Army's elite Ranger wing, 40 members of which were sent to Liberia to protect the 430-strong Irish deployment there.
Most of the party has not yet left Ireland and will travel next month. However, Sgt Mooney was part of an advance party which left last week. He and two of his colleagues were carrying out a routine familiarisation patrol when their vehicle left the road.
One of the two other Rangers suffered serious leg injuries and was recovering on The Rotterdam last night. His condition was described as serious, but stable. He is expected to be flown back to Ireland today and will continue his recovery in the Mater Hospital, Dublin.
The other man sustained minor injuries and had returned to duties yesterday.
An Army spokesman said the exact circumstances of the accident had not yet been established. "We will have a full investigation which will be aided by the UN team out there," he said.
The spokesman added that preparations were being made for the return to Ireland tomorrow of Sgt Mooney's body.
A statement from Mrs McAleese's office said she had learned of Sgt Mooney's death with "great sadness".
She has spoken to Lieut Gen Mangan and has asked him to pass her condolences on to Sgt Mooney's family. She added her thoughts and prayers and those of the Irish people were with his family.
Mr Ahern said: "Sgt Mooney lost his life in a tragic accident while working for the mission of peacekeeping in Liberia. He was there with his colleagues to improve the desperate circumstances of the people of that country.
"Our efforts, under the auspices of the United Nations, on behalf of the people of Liberia, will continue."
