Pte Sean's Hezbollah killer 'fled to Iran'

Ayyad released on bail more than a year agow

- BY JOHN KIERANS

THE terrorist who killed Private Sean Rooney is believed to be hiding out in Iran.

Hezbollah fighter Mohammed Ayyad has not been seen in more than a year, but Government and diplomat sources suspect he has fled Lebanon for Iran.

The runaway killer was sentenced to death on July 28 last by a Military Tribunal for the murder of the 23-year-old hero Dundalk soldier.

But he was not in court for the conviction and the Lebanese authorities gave no indication where he was.

Ayyad was initially released on bail over a year ago on medical grounds.

But yesterday, the Louth Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O'Murchu said nobody seems to know what his medical condition was.

He added: “This guy seems to have vanished and nobody knows where he is.”

But Government insiders believe Ayyad has fled to Iran - the country which bankrolls the Hezbollah organisation in South Lebanon where Sean perished.

One source said: “We suspect he is in Iran and it is unlikely anyone will hand him over to face a death penalty.

“It is not a satisfactory situation but all we can do is keep the pressure on and see if we can get justice for Sean and his family.”

Ayyad was among a gang of men who opened fire on the UN peacekeepers convoy on December 14, 2022 in the village of Al-Aqbiya as they made their way to Beirut Airport.