A simple prayer for Sharon’s safe return

AT the start of every day in the close-knit community of Clontarf, families come together to offer prayers for the safe release of kidnapped aid worker, Sharon Commins.

For a month now the aid worker, along with her colleague from the Irish aid agency GOAL, has been held captive by an armed gang after being taken captive in Sudan.

While diplomatic efforts continue around the clock for their safe release, each day in north Dublin a simple prayer is also offered up for her safe return during Mass at her local church, St Gabriel’s.

Reflecting on Sharon’s plight this week parish priest Michael Hastings said Ms Commins’ family were bearing up well, considering the situation.

“There is great support for the family. They are doing quite well, considering they’re confronting the fifth week of this.”

The armed kidnappers abducted 32-year-old Ms Commins and her Ugandan colleague Hilda Kawuki, 42, on July 3.

The aid workers were seized from a GOAL compound in Kutum, in north Darfur, by a gang of eight men who targeted the residence as night fell.

Since then, Irish Government officials, the Sudanese government and GOAL have been in Sudan using every resource to try and negotiate their release.

Despite reports of a demand for a ransom of $2 million (€1.4m), the Government are staying silent.

Ms Commins has spent the past 18 months in the Darfur region, having worked for GOAL for four years.

Charity chief John O’Shea has thanked everyone for the hundreds of messages of support he has received over the past weeks.

“Because of the sensitivity of the situation, we’re not saying anything more,” he said this week.

Sudanese authorities have said that efforts to negotiate an end to the workers’ captivity is progressing well.

Security analysts also suggest the kidnappers at this stage may be focusing on securing a “clean exit” from the situation.

Analyst Leo Harris, a former soldier in the Irish Rangers whose company have negotiated ends to tiger kidnappings as well as pirate abductions in east Africa, said: “The indications are no one is going to hand over cash, so what’s likely foremost in their mind is backing out without any loss of life ... The hostage takers will be looking for a get out of jail clause at this stage.”

The Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has asked priests and parishes this weekend to lead prayers for the safety and freedom of Ms Commins.

It is believed that in recent weeks regular phone contact has been permitted between the captive women and their families.