PTE Billy Kedian, the 18th Irish fatality in action in Lebanon, was hurrying his comrades from their sleeping quarters into the bunker after a mortar round landed 15 m to the south at 5 a.m.
The second, fatal shell shattered on the tarmac at the centre of the position, manned by 17 soldiers from the Fourth Western Brigade.
The three casualties were all members of the First Infantry Battalion, a particularly closely knit group. 85 IrishBatt arrived in Lebanon six weeks ago. It was Pte Kedian's second tour of duty in UNIFIL.
Comdt Philip Brennan, information officer, said the battalion's preliminary investigation revealed that a resistance group operating on the edge of Brachit had attacked one of the Israeli-controlled compounds (known as Whiskey-144), manned by Israel's surrogate "South Lebanon Army" (SLA) militia. The attack was claimed in Beirut by the secular Amal movement led by the Lebanese Speaker of Parliament, Mr Nabih Berri.
The SLA replied with mortar fire "directed at the IrishBatt position", Comdt Brennan stated. "A crater analysis of the impact site indicated that the round in 642 was an 81 mm mortar of Israeli manufacture" and "that the round had been fired from the direction of the SLA compound".
He said the survivors of the incident were receiving "comfort and council from the support system" made up of "specially trained people who deal with shock and trauma".
The battalion held a moving prayer service for Pte Kedian at 11 a.m. His friends and comrades were on hand to bid him farewell. IrishBatt's pipe band took part.
One of his grieving friends said that "peacekeepers have to expect this". Comdt Brennan agreed, saying: "Soldiering and peacekeeping can be a very dangerous occupation, particularly in the confused circumstances of southern Lebanon. The efforts of IrishBatt will continue as long it is directed [to stay on] by the Government."
There have been a number of similar incidents since 85 IrishBatt's arrival. The latest was on May 21st after Hizbullah launched an attack along the entire front, captured the SLA compound at Yahnoun and carried off both a militia officer and an armoured troop carrier.
"Firings close", which impact near or on Irish positions, are "all protested here and at home by the Department of Foreign Affairs at the highest level", Comdt Brennan said. As the SLA "is not recognised" by the UN, these protests are made to the Israeli government. If IrishBatt has a complaint against the resistance, this is made to the Lebanese government, which has recognised it.
Yesterday's incident took place on the eve of the SLA's withdrawal from the Jezzine enclave north of the Israeli-controlled zone. The SLA commander, Gen Antoine Lahad, announced this pull-out at a news conference after his forces targeted the Irish position at Brachit.
Later yesterday a Lebanese woman was wounded in shelling north of the Irish area and two SLA militiamen were killed. The Israeli army fired at suspected guerrilla positions in Nabatiyeh.
The Israeli Prime Minister-elect, Mr Ehud Barak, has pledged to withdraw from the nine to 15k strip north of the border within the year.
