Defence Forces confirm death of Air Corps lieutenant found unresponsive

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

An Air Corps lieutenant has been pronounced dead after being discovered in an unresponsive state by colleagues at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel.

The Defence Forces said it was confirming Lieutenant Conal Sheeran’s death with “great sadness”.

Lt Sheeran was from Co Westmeath and was aged 30.

He was said to have joined the Defence Forces in 2012 as a recruit in 1 Infantry Battalion, before joining the 70th Air Corps Apprentice Class also in 2012.

He graduated from this training in 2016 and subsequently became a member of the 36th Air Corps Cadet Class in 2017.

He completed this training and was commissioned as an officer in the Air Corps in 2020.

The Defence Forces said in a statement: “Lt Sheeran had 11 proud years of service with Oglaigh na hEireann and served in a number of appointments, including the Flight Training School, 506 Squadron and No 5 Ops Wing HQ. He also completed a Bachelor of Engineering in Military Aviation Technology in NUI Galway.”

The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Sean Clancy, said: “Today, the Air Corps and Oglaigh na hEireann have lost a fine colleague and a better friend.

“All of us in Oglaigh na hEireann extend our deepest sympathies to the family and the friends of Lt Sheeran, and to all those who were lucky enough to have known him, in whatever capacity that it was. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten.”