FREE Charity worker released from kidnap ordeal

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Sep 24, 2006 | by GERALDINE COMISKEY

THE family of Red Cross hostage victim Donal O'Suilleabhain were last night celebrating his release.

The Sligo man was fred unharmed yesterday morning after almost a week in captivity in south-east Ethiopia.

He had been kidnapped last Monday along with seven other people near the gown of Gode where he works as an engineer with the Red Cross. Six of the captives were released but Donal and an Ethiopian colleague - who has asked not to be named - were marched to a secret location.

Donal's dad Brian and mum Eilish were the first people he called when the Ethiopian terrorists released him yesterday.

Brian said his son's first words were: "I'm home."

He said Donal, 41, had not been afraid: "He told us he had been treated very well by the rebels. He said his only problem was worrying about us. He knew we'd be concerned about him - naturally.

"You know how it is. We were sick with worry. We always had a hope that it would end well but there was always something lingering at the back of our minds that it wouldn't end up well at all.

"Our only consolation was that we knew he wasn't afraid. He certainly wouldn't panic."

Donal's younger brother, Eoghan, 39, had flown to Addis Ababa during the week. Eoghan, an aid-worker with Goal, was the one who had inspired his elder brother to take up charity work, their dad said yesterday.

Brian added: "Having Eoghan out there made us feel better. He kept us well-informed. So did the Red Cross and the Department of Foreign Affairs."

Brian said the family got great comfort from their local community in the rural district of Drumkillsallagh, Co Sligo. He added: "The neighbours all came round to the house to keep us company. We were never alone for the whole week. They were great."

He said it was too early to plan a party for Donal's homecoming: "We'll see about it when he gets back."

But there will be a family reunion when Donal comes home with his brother.

Eoghan's Czech wife Lucie and baby son Ruadhan (15 months), who were visiting her family in the Czech Republic at the time of kidnap, are flying in during the week.

Irish Red Cross chairman David Andrews said yesterday that Donal was "in a reasonably good condition".

He thanked Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern and the International Committee of the Red Cross for negotiating with the rebels.