Sharon Commins freed

Aid worker Sharon Commins and her Ugandan colleague kidnapped in war-torn Sudan more than three months ago have been freed, the Government revealed today.

Goal workers Miss Commins, 32, from Dublin, and Hilda Kawuki were snatched from their compound in Darfur by an armed gang on July 3.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin said: “I am personally delighted and extremely relieved to relay the news that Sharon and Hilda, the two Goal volunteers, have been freed by their captives and handed over to the Sudanese authorities".

Mr Martin paid tribute to the two women for their strength during the terrifying ordeal.

“Their personal courage and resilience has helped them through what must have been a traumatic experience,” he said.

The Irish Ambassador to Sudan, Gerry Corr, will be travelling to Darfur to meet the two women.

It is understood the kidnapping was one of the longest running of any foreign aid staff in the region.

Extensive efforts had been made to secure their freedom, with Mr Martin travelling to Sudan in September to meet with authorities.

Miss Commins did manage to make telephone contact with her family in Clontarf, north Dublin last month, raising hopes for her release.

But speculation that the she and Miss Kawuki would be released during Ramadan celebrations failed to come to fruition and October 11 marked their 100th day in captivity.

Miss Commins had worked for Goal for four years and had been in Darfur for 18 months prior to her abduction.

The aid agency has been involved in Sudan since 1985.

John O'Shea, chief executive of Goal said the women had been released in the early hours of the morning in the town of Kutum, North Darfur.

“They’re doing great. I’ve just spoken to Sharon and she’s in terrific form,” he said.

“They suffered, no doubt about that, but they have been checked out at the local clinic in Kutum.

“Sharon’s very tired obviously, during the ordeal they did a lot of travelling and were moved about from place to place. But she’s fighting fit.”

Mr O’Shea said the women would be interviewed by Sudanese authorities and flown to the capital Khartoum before returning home to Dublin and Kampala.

“I don’t know when Sharon will be back – it depends on the Irish Government’s arrangements but I’d say it will be a short duration,” he added.

“I would imagine that they would be as anxious as we are to return them to the bosom of their families.”

The Goal chief said no ransom had been paid and he did not know why they had been released at this time.

“We don’t know and it doesn’t matter. We waited for so long – 107 days”

Mr O’Shea said both women had spoken to their families.

“Sharon’s family are obviously filled with a sense of relief and happiness that their gorgeous daughter is coming back to them and Hilda has a five-year-old son so I’m sure he will be very happy too.”

President Mary McAleese praised the two aid workers for their bravery and said she was deeply proud of them.

“We can only begin to imagine what they have been through during their long weeks in captivity,” she added.

“That ordeal serves as a reminder of the huge scale of the commitment made by Irish aid workers and indeed all aid workers every day as they carry out their noble work on our behalf.

“I pay tribute to them all.”

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said Irish officials in the region would be working hard to ensure the pair returned home swiftly to their loved ones.

“The two aid workers have endured a very difficult ordeal and their family and friends have also suffered during the period of their captivity,” he said.

Mr Cowen also offered his congratulations to everyone involved in bringing about the release.