The military court has released on bail the defendant accused of killing the Irish soldier from the United Nations peacekeeping forces nearly a year ago.

This development comes as UNIFIL forces monitor ongoing clashes along the border between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces.

The military court had charged Mohammed Ayyad and four others with the murder of Lieutenant Sean Rooney, 24, from Newtown Cunningham in Ireland, after a six-month investigation. Rooney was killed on December 14, 2022.

In the absence of any official position on the circumstances of Ayad's release, who belongs to "Hezbollah", "Nidaa Al-Watan" newspaper learned that the relevant authorities in the United Nations are holding meetings with official parties to understand the reasons for the step taken by the court.

Also, according to the information, the international movement on the level of the crime of killing the Irish soldier is not only aimed at gathering information, but also preparing a study that may be integrated into the core of the report that the United Nations will raise to the Security Council in the meeting next week.

A responsible international environment wondered, who is part of the communications in Lebanon: "On what basis was the accused of committing the crime of killing the Irish soldier released? Is this how countries that contribute to many "UNIFIL" are rewarded by sending their sons to Lebanon to achieve peace in its regions?"

In the details obtained by "Al-Madina" from prominent judicial sources, the military court released the detainee on a financial bail of one billion and 200 million Lebanese pounds.

The high judicial references explained that the release came as a result of the medical reports that Ayyad's legal agent presented to the military court, detailing his difficult health condition, including considering that Ayyad has cancer and needs constant medical follow-up and medication.

However, the references did not explain the reasons for accepting Ayyad's excuse for illness, to release him, while Lebanese prisons are crowded with hundreds of patients, disabled, minors, and mentally disturbed. It sufficed to say that Ayyad has not been tried, and the court is in the process of following up on this case and will not leave it. As soon as his conviction is confirmed, he will be "thrown in prison" and punished.

According to prominent judicial references, the military court considered that "the incident" was not intended, confirming that the gunfire was random, and that the killing of Sean Rooney was not planned or intended, and that Ayyad needs to receive medical treatment and constant follow-up.

Since this decision is surrounded by foggy circumstances and questions, it has sparked widespread controversy among citizens and the judiciary, especially after some judicial sources refused to make any statement about the subject or express their opinion on it.

In a related context, the official spokesperson for "UNIFIL", Andrea Tenenti, announced that "the peacekeeping mission has been informed of reports that the Lebanese authorities released last night the person they arrested, after the attack that led to the killing of UNIFIL peacekeeper Sean Rooney due to his deteriorating health condition".

He said, "We are working to verify this information from the military court".

Tenenti pointed out that "the Lebanese government has declared on several occasions its commitment to bring the perpetrators to justice", referring to "UNIFIL continues to urge the accountability of all perpetrators and achieve justice for soldier Rooney and his family".