GOAL Volunteers Freed In The Sudan

GOAL volunteers Hilda Kawuki and Sharon Commins have been released from captivity. The GOALies were released in the early hours of Monday morning. Both are unharmed and are healthy.

As we went to priny they were being interviewed by the national security of the Government of Sudan in Kutum, the town from which they were kidnapped on July 3rd.

Earlier in the morning they spent some time at the local clinic in Kutum. It's expected that later on Monday they will be flown to the Sudanese capital Khartoum and from there they will return to Dublin in the case of Hilda will be flown to her native city of Kampala in Uganda.

Both women have already spoken to their respective families.

GOAL's CEO 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 since July 3rd. Their happiness must know no bounds.

"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."

O'Shea added "I want to express my profound thanks on behalf of all in GOAL to the Irish Government and to the Sudanese authorities for the pivotal role they played in securing the release of the two GOALies. I also want to express my thanks to the Irish people for the prodigious support which they have provided in recent months."