Fr Michael Sinnott, the Irish priest who was being held hostage by rebels in the Philippines has been released. Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has said that he is personally delighted and relieved that Fr Sinnott has been freed by his captors.
The Department of Foreign Affairs says no ransom was paid by the Irish Government.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen has said he was delighted to learn of Fr Sinnott's release.
Mr Cowen said 'the Government and the country were relieved and thankful that the priest's ordeal had been brought to an end'.
Fr Sinnott, a member of the Missionaries of St Columban, was taken captive on 11 October.
Fr Sinnott, from Barntown in Co Wexford, was snatched by six gunmen who stormed his residence near the southern city of Pagadian.
At the time, regional police commander Chief Superintendent Angelo Sumlao said the gunmen took Fr Sinnott to a waiting van, which was later found abandoned and torched in a coastal area.
They then boarded a small vessel and headed out to sea, Chief Superintendent Sumlao said, quoting witnesses.
Fr Sinnott is the third Irish priest to be kidnapped in the area.
In 1997, Fr Des Hartford was held by Islamic militants for 12 days, and in 2001 a priest from Waterford, Fr Rufus Hally, was shot dead during an attempted abduction. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Disclaimer
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SIC: RTÉ