'SORRY WE HAD TO KIDNAP YOU' FR SINNOTT FREED MISSIONARY TELLS OF ORDEAL.Byline: CLAIRE BRENNAN BIG-hearted Fr Michael Sinnott did not have a bad word to say about his captors yesterday - his only gripe gripe v. To have sharp pains in the bowels. n. 1. gripes Sharp, spasmodic pains in the bowels. 2. A firm hold; a grasp. was the lack of sleep. Finally freed on Wednesday night after 32 days in captivity, the 79-year-old Columban missionary vowed to continue his work in the southern Philippines, if allowed by his order. And he joked he would not be kidnapped Kidnapped caught in the intrigues of Scottish factions, David Balfour and Alan Breck are shipwrecked, escape from the king’s soldiers, and undergo great dangers. [Br. Lit.: R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped] See : Adventurousness again - the Mindanao separatists separatists, in religion, those bodies of Christians who withdrew from the Church of England. They desired freedom from church and civil authority, control of each congregation by its membership, and changes in ritual. In the 16th cent. would have to go for a younger man who could keep up with their hiking pace. Fr Sinnott revealed how he: HIKED through jungles, survived raging seas and slept in a swamp despite his heart problems WAS kept in "primitive conditions" SURVIVED for 10 days without his vital heart medication but never feared for his life GOT an apology from his abductors, and HAS no plans to return to Ireland and wants to continue with his charity work. Looking frail and unshaven in Manila yesterday, the smiling Wexford-born priest said his only complaint was a monotonous diet of sandwiches and rice. He added: "Although the conditions were very primitive I never had any sickness or pains. They treated me very well. The night I was kidnapped they were quite rough when they threw me into a pick-up truck. "After that they couldn't have done more to make it easy for me in the conditions in which we were living. "They did things that they shouldn't have done that I could have done for myself. "I have to get a good night's sleep now. In the immediate future I want to stay on here in the Philippines and carry out my work. I don't know what my superiors will say about that but that is my own wish. "I don't think they are going to kidnap me again. I think they would be inclined to go for a much younger man. I was not able to hike at their speed. I had to rest a lot." Fr Sinnott was abducted by the armed gang on October 11 and taken from his gated compound in Pagadian City on the island of Mindanao to a nearby beach. From there he was transferred by speedboat deep into the jungle where he was forced to live near a swamp and managed to get by without vital heart medication. In a video released by the kidnappers on October 31 Fr Sinnott revealed a EUR EUR In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Euro. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 1.3million ransom had been placed on his head. But the Irish Government insisted no money was paid to the gang. The Columban Missionary yesterday recalled his ordeal, saying: "In the first 10 days there was nothing but stagnant water and black mud around us. There was very little room to move. "We were sleeping in hammocks. If I took my left leg out of the hammock hammock, suspended bed, usually of netting, canvas, or leather. The hammock and its name were introduced to Europeans by Christopher Columbus, who learned of them from Native Americans. I was touching the hammock of my guardian. "If I took my right leg out of the hammock I was one foot away from water. "All I could do for exercise was stand between the two and stamp my feet up and down. We were living in the open. We had a lorry cover over us. There was no room to move around. "After 10 days we moved to another place, eight hours away by boat. We lived in the forest. Things were better there. "We cut out a path so we could walk up and down for exercise. We were near a small spring of water which was clean and we could use for washing and cooking. "For the first 10 days I had no medication but I managed to get by without falling ill." Fr Sinnott first thought he was going to be released over a week ago by his captors who are believed to be rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Noun 1. Moro Islamic Liberation Front - a terrorist group in the southern Philippines formed in 1977 to establish an independent Islamic state for the Moros; have clashed with troops at United States bases . He was eventually handed over by the MILF MILF Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Muslim group in the Philippines) MILF Many Islands, Low Fares (Spirit Airlines promotion) MILF Mother I'd Like to Find itself to the Filipino authorities just after dawn on Thursday morning, Filipino time, in the city of Zamboagna, where he was checked out by doctors. He told RTE's Morning Ireland Morning Ireland is the breakfast news programme broadcast by RTÉ Radio 1 [1] each weekday morning between 7.00 and 9.00 (7.30 and 9.00 in high summer). Occasional weekend editions are also aired on the occasion of major breaking news stories such as general : "On November 4 the people who were guarding me told me that we were going out to freedom that evening. "So we started hiking for about 20 minutes to the top of the mountain where we were. But a phone call came through to say it was off because the boat could not come in. "Then on Wednesday the signal came. We left about 5.30pm Filipino time. "After that we had an eight-hour boat journey to Zamboagna city. "They assured me once I was kidnapped that they were not going to kill me. It was a group in Pagadian that did the kidnap. "I was then handed over to the 'last command' who said they were only guarding me and obeying orders and that they were sorry that this had happened. They assured me my life was in no danger." Leaders of the MILF have been credited with helping to negotiate Fr Sinnott's freedom and Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin also praised a "major diplomatic effort by the Irish and Filipino governments". The missionary, who has worked with disabled children in the Philippines for 40 years, said he had no idea how many people were involved in the rescue. He added: "I had no news of what was happening while I was in captivity. It's only since I came out that I heard about all the extraordinary coverage. I will never be able to thank everyone. It must have been their prayers that kept me going for 31 days." Fr Sinnott's niece Aine O'Meara said she's not surprised her uncle "Mal" is not bitter. She told Today with Pat Kenny Pat Kenny (born January 29, 1948) is the current presenter of Ireland's The Late Late Show, the world's longest running chat show[1], which is broadcast on Radio Telefís Éireann. : "He is completely devoted to his work. He is a selfless man. He loves his job serving God and the people. "He comes home every two years and he is not due back till next year. But we will have to see about that." Fr Sean McDonagh, from the Columban Missionaries headquarters in Navan, Co Meath, said: "It's amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. he didn't get dysentery dysentery (dĭs`əntĕr'ē), inflammation of the intestine characterized by the frequent passage of feces, usually with blood and mucus. or malaria. The fact that after 32 days he is well is a minor miracle." Irish Mirror Comment: Page 10 'HE MUST BE SAFE' By CLAIRE BRENNAN FATHER Sinnott's return to his work in the Philippines may be put on hold as authorities believe he may still be in danger. Fr Dan O'Malley, who shared a house with the freed cleric in Pagadian, said the Columban Fathers must ensure the priest's safe return to work. He added: "We have to talk with the bishop, with the dioceses, our superiors and the local authorities to evaluate the situation. "How safe is Pagadian? Is it responsible to continue? I'm sure Fr Mick will want to go back to work. But we have to make sure it is safe." CAPTION(S): HAPPY Fr Sinnott's sister Aine with his grand nieces Laura, Tara and Elena Kenny in Campile, Co Wexford yesterday CAPTIVE Fr Sinnott on kidnappers' video WELCOME President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo greets Fr Sinnott in Manila yesterday LIBERTY Fr Michael Sinnott heads for Manila yesterday GREAT TO BE ALIVE Fr Michael Sinnott waves to well-wishers at Zamboagna yesterday |
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