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Presbyterian Moderator Dr John Lockington will travel to Beirut this weekend (Oct 3-7) to visit members of the Irish Army serving with the United Nations Forces in Lebanon. It will be the first occasion on which a Moderator has visited Irish Army personnel serving overseas.
Just over six hundred Irish Army personnel of all ranks form part of an overall United Nations Force of 6,000 which has been present in Lebanon since 1978 charged with the aim of supervising the withdrawal of Israeli Forces and the restoration of peace to the area.
During his five day visit the Moderator will spend some time at the headquarters of the United Nations Force which comprises army personnel from Fiji, Ghana, India, Nepal, Italy, France and Poland, meeting HQ staff including the Deputy Force Commander, Brig- General Jim Sreenan of the Irish Army.
Dr Lockington, accompanied by Rev Frank Sellar, will also travel to the Irish Battalion Headquarters where he will meet the officers and men of the Infantry Battalion of the Irish Army currently serving there.
The last months have not been easy in Lebanon with the United Nations Forces coming under regular mortar fire from armed elements opposed to UN presence. Sadly this has resulted both serious injury and fatality within the UN Forces and particularly the Irish Battalion.
The Moderator will also see at first hand some of the humanitarian work undertaken by the Irish Army in the area including its work with local schools, clinics, local self-help groups and particularly the nearby Tibnin Orphanage.
Before leaving the Moderator will take part in a wreath laying ceremony at the Irish Battalion Headquarters.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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