An Irish soldier has been killed in a motorcycle accident in Lebanon as he was due to go on a fortnight's leave in Cyprus. Trooper Jonathan Campbell (29), of Cornedden, Ballinalee, Co Longford, was serving with the 85th Battalion and was due home in October.
His death is a double loss for his family as his grandmother, Mrs Bridget Campbell, died on Friday and will be buried in Co Longford today. Trooper Campbell, a single man, had been in the Army for nine years and was on his fifth tour of duty in Lebanon.
He is understood to have met a Lebanese civilian friend in Beirut on Saturday night and was with him on a motorcycle when the accident occurred about 2.30 a.m. yesterday. The Lebanese civilian also died in the accident.