Injured Meath soldier has 'no regrets' over fighting on the Ukrainian frontline against Russian forces

A Ratoath man who suffered life changing injuries in the war in Ukraine will undergo crucial surgery to remove shrapnel from his heart this week.

Former Irish soldier, Brian Meagher, who was medically evacuated from the war-torn country at the weekend said he has no regrets over his decision to fight in Ukrainne.

Brian was injured in the fighting in Kharkiv on 6th September in the same area where Dunboyne's Rory Mason was killed on 28th September, while fighting with the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine.

Brian had spoken of his sadness at Rory's death, and extended his sympathy to his family.

Brian, a native of Ashbourne, who had been living in Ratoath for some time, had been in hospital in Kiyv until his evacuation last week. Despite is many injuries, he was in great spirits for an emotional reunion with his family on Saturday.

His mother, Catherine, sister, Helen, his son Brendan and his nephew Kian visited Brian at the Cork Hospital.  He has injuries to his chest and spine with multiple entry and exit wounds from shrapnel, as well as damage to his arms, fingers and to his liver.

His evacuation from a hospital Kiyv was part of a coordinated EU system led by the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.

"Brian sends his condolences to the Mason family," says his mother Catherine. "He didn't know him, but he was very sad to hear that he had been killed."

Despite what are expected to be life changing injuries, Brian was in high spirits at being back in Ireland and after his heart surgery next week is hoping to be transferred to either Connolly Hospital in Blandchardstown or Our Lady's Hospital in Navan.

"They were only allowing one person into see him in the ward on Saturday, so being the soldier he is, he insisted on getting out of bed and coming out to see us all," says Catherine.

Brian, who has two children, Brendan and Laura, originally went out to help with charities working in Ukraine. "When he was asked to join the soldiers on the front line, he decided to go. He had 16 years experience in the Irish army," Catherine explains.

"He left his family and home to go help with the crisis in Ukraine. While patrolling with his platoon, they were ambushed. A number of Brian's colleagues were killed instantly, some remain missing in action and thankfully several of them survived, including Brian but are very badly wounded."

Catherine says the last few months have been very worrying for the family."There was no communication a lot of the time and we didn't know whether he was alive or dead.

"Brian has had several surgeries, with many more to go. It is hoped he will make a good recovery, but he has a long road ahead of him to recover from his injuries and will need a lot of help over he coming months. He will need a lot of physiotherapy, he will be off work for a long time and we have to see if his home will be suitable for him with his injuries."

Catherine has set up a GoFundMe page, which can be found by googling 'Saving Private Brian' to help Brian with his recovery. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland from his hospital bed in Kiyv last week, Brian said Kharkiv had been quiet until the current offensive began.

"The offensive now that went on, it's probably one of the biggest offensives in the world since World War II, and they've captured over 6,000 square kilometres, so it's pretty big and successful."

"It is a fairly bloody campaign. I don't know the casualty rate, but just judging from what I see in the hospital, it's horrendous".

He explained that he had been standing in an open-back truck when they were ambushed.  "I just heard the explosion. "As soon as it happened, I hit the ground and I jumped up because I thought I was fine."

He started to run but after a few steps realised he was injured.

"I later found out then that I was hit twice in the heart [with shrapnel] and I got one into my spine. And I had gotten one somewhere over in my lung area," he said.

It took 30 minutes from he was injured to be brought to the casualty collection point. "It was basically operating tables in an abandoned house and just filled with medical personnel.”

Brian says he has no regrets about going to Ukraine. "I'm very glad I came here. I know if Ireland was invaded, I would want Europeans and foreign men to come and help us fight. So that's all, that's all I did.""I have no regrets. My only regret is that I was hit," he said.