Sharon’s joyful return

SHARON COMMINS arrived home to an emotional family reunion last night following her 107-day ordeal at the hands of Sudanese kidnappers.

The 33-year-old aid worker landed at Baldonnel Aerodrome just before midnight to jubilant scenes as she stepped from the Government jet.

Also there to welcome her was Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin, who had been directly involved in efforts to secure her release.

Last night, Mr Martin said he was happy that “other options” such as an armed response was not activated in securing Sharon’s safety.

“I am very happy this has come to a peaceful conclusion,” he said.

Speaking in advance of her daughter’s return, Agatha Commins said Sharon was seen as “a daughter of Ireland”.

“We are a small country and we are all united in one of our daughters being gone,” she said.

Agatha last saw her daughter when they spent a four-day trip in Ennis last February, but yesterday she said she expects to see more of Sharon in future.

“Overseas is out of Sharon’s agenda,” she said. As for the reception back in Clontarf, it would be “very quiet”.

“She has not slept for a period of time and she has been through an awful ordeal. We are going to take it one step at a time. I think there will be tears. Some higher being has held her in this state and I think when she hits Dublin the tears will flow.”

On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland show, Sharon recalled her abduction on July 3, when she and her GOAL colleague Hilda Kawuki were taken at gunpoint from the compound in Kutum, Darfur.

“We were petrified. We knew it was an abduction and we just hoped that we would be out in a few days.”

She revealed that the 18-man gang who held them hostage were “a mix of personalities”, including some who were “evil” and who carried out a series of mock assassinations.

The moment of her release took time to sink in: “My Mam just said the same thing she said to me on day 70 when I rang – ‘are you free, are you free, are you free?’ and I was like, ‘yeah, actually I’m free this time’, and it was brilliant.”

President Mary McAleese will host a reception for Ms Commins and family at Áras an Uachtaráin, on Thursday.