Man jailed for 1980 murder of Irish soldiers in Lebanon
Updated / Tuesday, 22 Dec 2020
22:12
Security Correspondent, Prime Time
A man who murdered two Irish soldiers in south Lebanon 40 years ago has been given a life sentence after being convicted of the killings.
Mahmoud Bazzi, 76, was convicted of murdering Privates Thomas Barrett and Derek Smallhorne, who were abducted and killed while on United Nations peacekeeping duties in April 1980.
Bazzi was also found guilty of attempting to murder another Irish soldier, Private John O Mahony.
Due to his advanced age, Bazzi s sentence was reduced to 15 years. He has been in custody since January 2015.
Bazzi and other members of the Israeli-backed DFF militia abducted soldiers Private Barrett and Private Smallhorne on 18 April 1980 in southern Lebanon.