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Mahmoud Bazzi pictured in Michigan in the US in 2014. MCT/SIPA USA/PA Images

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.

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.

At the latest hearing yesterday, Bazzi was convicted of the offences and sentenced to serve a life sentence in prison.

Due to Bazzi’s age, the sentence was reduced to 15 years. He has been in custody since January 2015 after being deported from the US following years on the run.

On 18 April 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.

Speaking after receiving the news, Coveney said he was “thankful that this matter has been brought to a conclusion”.

“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.”

Coveney said the families of Privates Thomas Barrett and Derek Smallhorne 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.”

The Minister commended Ex-Private John O’Mahony who suffered serious injuries in the same attack, for his courage and dignity in having faced Bazzi at the earlier stages of the tribunal process.

“I appreciate how difficult that was for him and the time he took out from his own life to get justice for his colleagues. The verdict will be a huge relief to him also.”

Members of the Irish government attended meetings with Lebanese government ministers and key officials in recent years to push for justice for the families involved.

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    Mute Toby
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    Jul 28th 2023, 8:06 AM

    Every country France colonised is a mess now, recent coups in Mali, Burkina and Niger. Even France is a mess. Do we want to be in Europe as a bit player in their club?

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    Mute James Carroll
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    Jul 28th 2023, 8:51 AM

    @Toby: Yes.

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    Mute John Lonergan
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    Jul 28th 2023, 8:53 AM

    @Toby: cause the ones other countries colonised are all fine and dandy?

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    Mute Washpenrebel
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    Jul 28th 2023, 10:12 AM

    I would expect no one here realises that France is still has the biggest colonies in Africa. They countries they used to directly control, they now control their finances. Ie these countries reserves are stored in the French central bank. The French keep them poor and the enrich themselves with their resources. When a leader comes in they don’t like, they are removed. France is far from a democracy. In fairness to the British at least they left.

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Jul 28th 2023, 11:16 AM

    @Washpenrebel: In fairness the British left? Yes the British left after drawing lines in the sand that led to the deaths of millions between India and Pakistan. The mess they left behind in the Middle East is still going on to this day. The British Empire was just as bad as the French Empire. A legacy of murder and destruction.

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    Mute Washpenrebel
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    Jul 28th 2023, 12:37 PM

    @Donal Desmond: 100% agree with you. But the way the French still control former colonies is horrendous. There is a reason why the French foreign legion are still active all over Africa. Africa is still used as a resource to plunder a pillage from. The Congo being a perfect example with all its rich minerals.

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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Jul 28th 2023, 10:31 AM

    Washpenrebel.
    For anyone starting to read his comment just skip down to the last sentence.

    It’s handy when commenters make their agenda so obvious.

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    Mute Pato
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    Jul 28th 2023, 3:04 PM

    The British left did they? How come I still see them when I go to Enniskillen?

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