Martin hails co-operation to free Sharon Commins

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin has hailed the co-operation between Government departments that led to the release of kidnapped aid worker Sharon Commins over the weekend.

The 33-year-old GOAL worker was reunited with her family at Baldonnel Aerodrome in west Dublin last night.

Ms Commins and her Ugandan colleague Hilda Kiwuki were kidnapped by armed men in Darfur in July.

They were freed on Sunday morning after 107 days in captivity.

Ms Commins' parents, siblings and friends lined the runway at Baldonnel last night to welcome her back to Ireland.

Her parents thanked the Department of Foreign Affairs for its support, which they said kept them going during the past three-and-a-half months.

Mr Martin said the Gardaí, the Irish Army and a number of departments were involved in the effort to free Ms Commins and he described their co-operation as "outstanding".

Ms Commins herself was in good spirits as she arrived and said she had been dreaming during her captivity of getting back to Ireland.