‘Sharon’s return brings joy to great Irish family’

SMILING alongside Ireland’s most powerful office holders, a grateful but nervous Sharon Commins was praised for her courage and endurance after her 107-day ordeal in Sudan.

President Mary McAleese hosted a reception at Áras an Uachtaráin to mark the safe return from Darfur of the kidnapped GOAL worker.

“Your safe return home has brought huge joy obviously to your parents, your siblings, your friends, your colleagues but believe me as you can see from what you’ve experienced everywhere you’ve gone since you came home, it’s brought huge joy to that other great family you are part of and that’s the family of the Gael, the great Irish family that rallied around you,” said the President.

Armed kidnappers abducted the 32-year-old and her Ugandan colleague Hilda Kawuki on July 3 from a GOAL compound in Kutum, north Darfur.

The reception was attended by a host of top dignitaries including secretary generals from departments, the Defence Force’s chief of staff Lt Gen Dermot Earley and Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy among others.

US philanthropist and billionaire Chuck Feeney was also spotted at the reception.

Also in attendance were Ms Commins’s GOAL colleagues Jonathan Edgar and Gerry Carty, who she embraced and thanked.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin also greeted Ms Commins as well as her parents Agatha and Mark and brothers Mark and Derek.

President McAleese likened the aid worker’s return to that of freed journalist Brian Keenan, whose book An Evil Cradling Ms Commins is understood to have read shortly before she was kidnapped.

The President praised her courage and the values that had made the GOAL worker go to the war-torn region of Darfur in the first place.

“Those same qualities, those same values helped you get through your hellish ordeal. We know that. You are made of tough stuff.”

Ms Commins did not speak to reporters but sent a message saying she had worn her emerald coloured dress to show her Irishness.

President McAleese praised the negotiation team who had led a “delicate and dangerous” operation to help with her release as well as the stoicism and faith of the Commins family.

The Sudanese authorities and UN were also thanked.

President McAleese said Irish prayers were now focused on the safe release of Irish priest Fr Michael Sinnott who was being held in the Philippines.