Plea to ill priest's kidnappers

Monday, October 12, 2009 - 06:50 PM

Missionaries tonight pleaded with a kidnap gang who took an ailing Irish priest hostage to allow him access to vital heart medication.

Father Michael Sinnott, 79, who had a by-pass four years ago, was snatched yesterday from his gated compound on the Philippines island of Mindanao by an armed gang.

As fears for his health heightened, banners demanding his release were strung across streets in Pagadian City by fellow priests and those he cared for.

Father Pat O’Donoghue, regional director of the Columban Fathers in the Asian islands, stressed it was essential that Fr Sinnott get his pills.

“It is vitally important that they (the kidnappers) get the medication that he needs,” he said.

“We would try to facilitate that if possible.”

Prayers have been offered for Fr Sinnott in churches across the region.

Reports from the area suggest Muslim guerrillas fighting for an independent state in the southern Philippines region may be behind the abduction for ransom.

They have been known to target and kidnap foreigners, including Irish priests.

“There isn’t any clarity yet as to who might have taken him or where they might have taken him, but the hope is that he is not too far away from here,” Fr O’Donoghue said.

Fr Sinnott, who turns 80 in December, ran a school for children with learning and hearing difficulties called Hangop Kabatan, meaning refuge for children.

It closed as teachers and board of management helped with the search.

“The Filipino people are a very warm-hearted, caring and compassionate people,” Fr O’Donoghue said.

“Everybody who knew him, the more people who heard about this the more people that got terribly upset about it.

“There are many groups within the city coming together for prayer in different places.”

Ireland’s Ambassador to Singapore Richard O’Brien travelled to Manila to meet officials and representatives of the Columban missionaries.

Fellow Irish missionary Father Shay Cullen, who founded the Preda Foundation in the Philippines helping sexually exploited children, said everyone was deeply concerned for Fr Sinnott.

He was taught by the veteran missionary as he began studies for the priesthood.

“He has been through a lot of stresses and strain and this is going to be a big challenge for him,” Fr Cullen said.

“He’s had some heart problems, that’s our greatest worry, that that would flare up again and this would cause him great problems.”

Paying tribute to Fr Sinnott he said he was a very great man, dedicated to working with the poor and the oppressed.

Fr Cullen who writes a weekly column in a Filipino newspaper used his article to appeal for compassion.

“He imparted to me that terrific dedication and encouraged me in my vocation,” he said.

“He is a man I have great feelings for.”