Sharon Commins to arrive home today

Aid worker Sharon Commins was returning home today, following more than three months of captivity in war-torn Sudan.

The 32-year-old was released with her Ugandan colleague Hilda Kawuki 107 days after they were snatched from their compound in Darfur by an armed gang in July.

Miss Commins’ father Mark said the family could not wait to greet her when she touched down on home soil in a Government jet.

“We are absolutely thrilled. I’m dying to see her,” Mr Commins said.

“It’s really been hell this last 100 days – there’s a sense that we were captured as well.”

Yesterday, at a news conference in Darfur, Miss Commins thanked the Sudanese people for their support.

“The general public of Sudan who have prayed for us and who have supported us through this difficult time, thank you for your patience.

“This took a long time to secure but you kept us on the agenda,” she said.

“Thank you for staying strong and keeping this issue alive for us.”

Miss Commins said she hoped aid volunteers would keep up their efforts in the troubled region.

“I hope that humanitarian workers will continue with their good work that the communities and everyone appreciates.”

Mr Commins said it was a great comfort to see his daughter on television.

“We couldn’t be more proud of her – she’d been held captive for so long but she went out there and was so articulate.”

He described her as a fun-loving young woman and the life and soul of every party.

“She’s looking forward to coming home and all she can think about now is going out and having nice meals out – she’s been captive for 107 days.”

The Dublin aid worker was in Darfur with the humanitarian organisation Goal when she and Miss Kawuki were kidnapped in the northern town of Kutum.

Extensive efforts were made to secure their freedom, with Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin travelling to Sudan in September to meet authorities.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it had not paid a ransom to end the captivity – understood to be one of the longest running of any foreign aid staff in the region.

A Government jet with medical personnel and Air Corps staff on board was sent to the Sudanese capital Khartoum to bring Miss Commins home after her release.

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

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