Two Irish soldiers who were murdered while serving in Lebanon have ‘finally got justice after 40 years’
Ann Mooney
23 Dec 2020, 7:00
THE families of two Irish soldiers, who were murdered while serving in the Lebanon yesterday said they’ve finally got justice after 40 years.
Privates Thomas Barrett, 29, from Macroom, Co Cork, and Derek Smallhorne, 31, from Bluebell, Dublin, were abducted and killed while on United Nations Peacekeeping duties in April 1980.
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Private Thomas Barrett, 29Credit: check copyright
They were captured by the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army in a car and their bodies were found hours later.
Both had been shot dead at point blank range.
Conviction of man who murdered two Irish soldiers in 1980
Long running trial over Lebanon killings
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The Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, has been notified of the conviction by a Lebanese Military Tribunal of the perpetrator of the murder of two Irish soldiers in Lebanon in 1980.
On April 18, 1980, Private Thomas Barrett and Private Derek Smallhorne were murdered and one soldier, Private John O’Mahony was seriously injured in the same incident in Lebanon. The personnel were serving as peacekeepers with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
At the village of At-Tiri, a convoy, which included the three Irish soldiers, was stopped and all the personnel were taken prisoner by de-facto forces. The Defence Forces personnel were disarmed and separated from the rest of the group. Private O’Mahony was shot and seriously injured while Privates Barrett and Smallhorne were murdered.
Ex-militiaman (76) Jailed For 15 Years For Murdering Two Irish Peacekeepers 40 Years Ago In Lebanon
However the sentenced was then reduced, due to his advancing age.
Defence Minister Simon Coveney issued a statement overnight:
“I am thankful that this matter has been brought to a conclusion by the Lebanese Authorities and that a conviction has been obtained in the case.” The Irish Government has done everything possible to assist the Lebanese authorities with this case in recent years and I am delighted that, after four decades since the murder of the two peacekeepers, justice has now been done.” The families of Privates Thomas Barrett and Derek Smallhorne who lost their lives so tragically while on United Nations peacekeeping duty in Lebanon have been updated on the outcome of the case. I hope this decision of the Military Tribunal will go some way to ease the suffering endured by the families by the loss of their loved ones.”
Simon Coveney welcomes murder conviction of man who killed two Irish soldiers in Lebanon sundayworld.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sundayworld.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Man convicted of murder of two Irish soldiers in Lebanon in 1980
Private Thomas Barrett and Private Derek Smallhorne were killed while on a peacekeeping mission over 40 years ago. By Órla Ryan Tuesday 22 Dec 2020, 7:27 AM Dec 22nd 2020, 7:27 AM 30,377 Views 10 Comments
Mahmoud Bazzi pictured in Michigan in the US in 2014.
Image: MCT/SIPA USA/PA Images
Mahmoud Bazzi pictured in Michigan in the US in 2014.
Image: MCT/SIPA USA/PA Images
A MAN HAS been convicted of the murder of two Irish soliders in Lebanon in 1980, Defence Minister Simon Coveney has confirmed.
The trial of Mahmoud Bazzi (76) by a Lebanese Military Tribunal in Beirut Lebanon has been ongoing since June 2015.