119 Defence Forces members return this morning from Syria following delays due to paperwork

119 Irish troops including several  from Co Kildare were reunited with their families today after delays due to a paper work delay some weeks ago.

 The 57th Infantry Group, United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) returned to T1, Dublin Airport this morning, following a six month deployment to the Golan Heights and Syria.

The personnel were met by their families and friends. The 57th Infantry Group were drawn primarily from the 3rd Infantry Battalion, stationed in Stephens Barracks, Kilkenny, but also contained personnel drawn from all over the country.

The 57th Infantry Group were the first Irish unit to redeploy to Syria following a UN evacuation of personnel in 2014.

Their replacements, the 58th Infantry Group, have completed their deployment to Syria and have joined their UNDOF colleagues.

PDFORRA, the Defence Forces representative association, said the delay should not have happened and has called for a thorough investigation.