19/10/2009

Freed Aid Worker To Return Home

Irish aid worker Sharon Commins is due to arrive back home in Ireland today, following her release after almost four months in captivity in Darfur.

Ms Commins, 32, from Clontarf, Dublin, and her Ugandan colleague Hilda Kawuki, 42, were kidnapped by a gang of armed men from their compound in the north Darfur town of Kutum in early July.

The two women were working for the Irish aid agency Goal.

It is understood that Ms Commins arrived in Khartoum this morning and is due to arrive by government jet at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, around 10:30pm tonight.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin confirmed that no ransom was paid for the release of Ms Commins and her colleague.

Both are reported to be in good health, although it is undertstood that they lost weight during their ordeal.

The Commins family have thanked the Irish people for the their support and praised those involved in securing the release of Ms Commins and her colleague.

(KMcA/BMcC)

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