IT WAS the phone call Agatha Commins had been waiting more than three months for.
In the early hours yesterday, Sudan’s humanitarian affairs minister called the Commins family home in Clontarf with news that her daughter Sharon had been released from captivity.
Shortly afterwards, Agatha was speaking to Sharon. "She sounded so strong," Mrs Commins told The Irish Times. "I was amazed." Agatha, her husband Mark and sons Derek and Martin were overjoyed. "We are over the moon," she said. "It as if all our Christmases have come at once."
Yesterday marked the end of an ordeal that lasted more than 100 days. “It has been like hell,” said Mrs Commins. “That is the only way I could describe it. In a sense, it was like the whole family had been kidnapped – none of us could move on with our lives.
“All our waking, thinking moments were about Sharon and how we could get her out.”
Last month Mrs Commins had a brief conversation with her daughter after the kidnappers agreed to a phone call between the two. The family has been in regular contact with Abdul Bagi al-Jailani, the Sudanese minister for humanitarian affairs, who oversaw negotiations for the release of Sharon and her colleague Hilda Kawuki.
Support the family received from friends, neighbours and the public was a source of enormous comfort and solace, Mrs Commins said. Prayers were said at Masses throughout the country last weekend to mark Sharon’s 100th day of captivity, and several prayer vigils were held.
Members of Ireland’s Muslim community also conveyed support. “Everyone – our priests, parish, neighbours, friends – were amazing. It was like one huge family rallying around us.”
The family intend to keep Sharon’s homecoming a low-key affair. “We just want to keep it as simple and as private as possible so we can give Sharon some space. I know that while Sharon sounds strong she has gone through a trauma, and I need to mind her – that’s what I intend to do,” Mrs Commins said.
In a statement, the family thanked Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin for time spent working for the release. They also expressed gratitude for efforts made by different Government departments and the gardaí.