Irish PM 'delighted and relieved' at release of Sharon Commins and Ugandan colleague Hilda Kawuki from captivity in Darfur

This article is more than 10 years old

This article is more than 10 years old

An Irish aid worker and her Ugandan colleague have been released from captivity four months after being kidnapped in Sudan.

Sharon Commins and Hilda Kawuki were freed following negotiations with local tribal chiefs in war-torn Darfur. Ireland's ambassador to Sudan, Gerry Corr, is today on his way to Darfur to meet both women.

The Irish foreign minister, Michael Martin, said he was delighted to hear that Commins, from Dublin, and her colleague had been released. Martin praised the two women's courage and resilience and paid tribute to the family of Sharon Commins, saying they had behaved with dignity and fortitude.

The two workers with the Irish aid agency Goal spent the longest time in captivity that any foreign aid staff had endured in Darfur since the civil war erupted in 2003.

Sharon Commins's mother, Agatha, said she had spoken to her daughter and that she was exhausted. "Oh my God, can you imagine, we just leapt out of bed when we heard the phone," she said. "We were just absolutely overjoyed."

The family was informed of the release by Sudan's humanitarian affairs minister, Abdel Baqi Gilani.

The Irish prime minister, Brian Cowen, said he was "absolutely delighted and relieved" to receive news of the release. The taoiseach passed on his "warm congratulations to everyone involved in bringing about Sharon and Hilda's freedom".

Goal's director, John O'Shea, said: "A sense of overwhelming relief and joy has descended upon all of us. We are especially happy and pleased for the families of both Hilda and Sharon who have suffered so much.

"I spoke with Sharon earlier this morning 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."