Pte’s Rooney’s mother Natasha, his fiancée Holly McConnellogue and grandfather Eugene were among those present when the aircraft landed, according to RTÉ, external.
A post-mortem examination will be carried out and Pte Rooney’s funeral is expected to take place later this week.
Trooper Shane Kearney, 23, was also seriously injured in Wednesday’s attack.
Speaking on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics on Sunday, Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney said the news was “more optimistic” about the condition of Trooper Kearney.
