Two kidnapped aid workers from the Irish aid agency Goal were released this morning in Sudan's troubled Darfur region after more than 100 days in captivity.
Sharon Commins (32), from Clontarf in Dublin, and her colleague Hilda Kawuki (42), a nutritionist from Uganda, were abducted at gunpoint after armed men stormed their compound in the north Darfur town of Kutum on July 3rd last.
Sharon's mother, Agatha, told The Irish Timesthis morning: "We are over the moon".
"It is if all our Christmases have come at once,” she said of the phone call from Sudan's minister for humanitarian affairs, Abdel Baqi al-Jailani saying the women had been released early this morning.
Mrs Commins spoke to her daughter on the phone a short time later and said she had sounded strong. “She was more concerned about how we are than herself,” Mrs Commins said.
Arrangements are being made the return of Ms Commins to Ireland. The government jet was due to fly to Khartoum this evening to bring Ms Commins home tomorrow.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said the Irish Ambassador to Sudan, Mr Gerry Corr will be travelling to Darfur to meet with the two women.
“The safe release of Sharon and Hilda comes after more than 100 days in captivity. I want to pay a personal tribute to the two women who have undergone such a difficult ordeal.”
The Minister also paid tribute to all those involved in securing the release of the two women and added that no ransom had been paid for their release.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen welcomed the news of the release.
"Their families had to suffer greatly the anxiety and worry and concern we all understand, given the uncertainty of their situation for over 100 days," he said.
"It is greatly to be welcomed that they are safe and they can return to the bosom of their families. They have shown great fortitude and courage in this situation."
President Mary McAleese welcomed the “wonderful news” and said their ordeal served as a reminder of the “huge scale of the commitment made by Irish aid workers and indeed all aid workers every day”.
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.
John O'Shea, chief executive officer of Goal, said he had spoken with Commins and she sounded "wonderful." "Hilda and herself have suffered a traumatic ordeal - but happily both have had the strength and courage to come through it," he said in a statement.
"A sense of overwhelming relief and joy has descended upon all of us."
The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) said they had received the women in their office in Kutum, but added they were not involved in the negotiations. "A doctor looked at them and they seemed in good health," said ICRC spokesman Saleh Dabbakeh.
Sudanese officials had been negotiating with the kidnappers through tribal elders. Mr Jailani's ministry said no ransom had been paid and that the two women were on their way to North Darfur's capital el-Fasher.
Darfur has seen a wave of kidnappings in the past year, and aid workers working in the hostile region have had to step up security. Mostly Darfur rebels took up arms in early 2003 accusing central government of neglect.
Sudanese officials had been negotiating with the kidnappers through tribal elders. The kidnappers, members of a nomadic Darfur tribe, had demanded a ransom, aid sources said.
Aid groups say they have faced increased hostility and threats since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant in March for Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, to face charges that he masterminded war crimes in Darfur.
Meanwhile, a new appeal was issued for the release of kidnapped Irish priest Fr Michael Sinnott, who was taken captive in the Philippines a week ago.
Prayers were said today for the release of the 79-year-old missionary, who has a heart condition.
Additional reporting agencies