'Hello mum, it's me, I'm free, how's dad?'
Ordeal ends as aid worker rings home
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"HELLO mum, I'm free." They were the words Agatha Commins had been waiting to hear for 106 days since her daughter Sharon was kidnapped.
And yesterday morning, she heard that Sharon was finally on the way home.
The 32-year-old GOAL aid worker is expected to arrive home today on the government jet after more than three months in captivity in war-torn Sudan with her Ugandan colleague Hilda Kawuki.
The pair endured temperatures of 40C and were moved around the country by their captors "four or five times" while being held in conditions with mosquitoes, snakes and polluted water.
Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin told the Irish Independent that the Government would "learn lessons" from the ordeal and start an immediate review of the conditions facing Irish aid workers in the Third World.
The Government will also now look at the possibility of honouring Ms Commins for the bravery shown during her terrifying ordeal.
Ms Commins appeared gaunt at a press conference in Sudan last night but remained resolute that other aid workers should keep working despite the ordeal she has been through.
"We hope that humanitarian workers will continue with their good work that the communities and everyone appreciates," she said.
She also paid tribute to the people of Sudan and thanked everyone who worked for her release. "Thanks to 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 it on the agenda," she said. "Thank you for staying strong and keeping this issue alive for us."
Ms Commins and Ms Kawuki were kidnapped from the GOAL compound in Kutum, north Darfur, on July 3 by eight heavily armed men who are thought to be former members of a nomadic 'Janjaweed' group.
Both Mr Martin and GOAL insisted that no ransom had been paid in return for the freedom of the two women.
There were joyous celebrations in the Commins' family home in Clontarf, north Dublin, yesterday when the phone rang at 4am. It was the Sudanese humanitarian affairs minister Abdel-Baqi al-Jailani.
Ms Commins' mother Agatha was asleep when the call came through. "We just jumped out of bed and we were absolutely overjoyed," Mrs Commins said.
"He said 'your daughter is released'. We were overjoyed. It was a highly emotional call."
She said it was a short conversation and that her daughter sounded well.
"She just said, 'Hello, mum, I'm free', and 'how is dad and how are the boys?'"
She said they had been "up every mountain and down every valley" during the past traumatic three months. "It's been like living in hell and we just couldn't get a way out of it," she said.
"At all times the phone had to be manned just in case this other call came from Sharon."
Her father Mark also thanked the people of Ireland for their messages of support and "all the Mass cards" they have received since Sharon was kidnapped. "You were absolutely wonderful," he said.
Recalling the early morning phone call, he said they were taken aback to find out she had finally been freed.
"I know we were 106 days waiting on this call but still when it came we were surprised," he said.
Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs had been told to be aware of an imminent announcement from 11pm on Saturday.
A team of Irish officials has been on the ground in Sudan since the two women were kidnapped, led by Irish Ambassador to Egypt Gerry Corr.
Last Monday, Mr Corr met with local tribal leaders connected to the kidnappers, which is thought to have accelerated the release.
There had been a number of occasions over the period of the kidnapping when it was expected Ms Commins would be released.
"The influence of the tribal chiefs was pivotal in terms of influencing the bandits to release the two women," Mr Martin said.
Ms Commins is said to be healthy following her release, although it is clear she has lost a substantial amount of weight.
After her release, GOAL chief executive John O'Shea said a "sense of overwhelming relief and joy" descended over all of the staff at the aid agency and thanked the Irish Government for its work in freeing the pair.
Ms Commins said she was thrilled to be freed, ending a "traumatic period" for her family and friends. "It was, of course, a difficult time -- but we found strength in each other and in our friendship. We now can hardly wait to get home and spend time with our loved ones," she said.
"We want to express our heartfelt thanks to the Irish Government, the Sudanese authorities and our colleagues in GOAL, who all worked tirelessly to secure our release."
President Mary McAleese described the women as "immensely brave and resilient" and that the country was "deeply proud of both of them".
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said he was "absolutely delighted and relieved".
It is expected that Ms Commins will arrive to Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnell today. The government jet flew to Khartoum last night to collect her. The kidnapping was the longest-running abduction of foreign aid workers ever to take place in Darfur.
- Shane Hickey and Aine Kerr
Irish Independent
