Tragic Irish soldier named
An Irish soldier who died after an apparent accidental shooting in East Timor has been named as 21-year-old Private Peadar Flaherty.
He was shot in the head at around 10.30am Irish time and was evacuated to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The victim, who was from Lettermore in Co Galway, was one of 42 Irish soldiers serving with the UNTAET peacekeeping force in East Timor.
He joined the Defence Forces in November 1999 and had also served with UNIFIL in Lebanon.
Defence Minister Michael Smith has extended his sympathies to the relatives of the dead man.
