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06/12/2004
Former Afghan captive returns home to NI
Former Afghan captive Annetta Flanigan has arrived back in Northern Ireland.
The Co Armagh woman, who is originally from Richhill, arrived at Belfast City Airport on Sunday but left by a side entrance to evade waiting journalists.
Captured on October 28, along with two colleagues Shiqpe Hebibi from Kosovo and Filipino diplomat Angelito Nayan, Ms Flanigan spent 27 days in captivity.
Initial reports indicated that the trio had been freed as part of a series of successful security operations in Afghanistan, but a Nato spokesperson later said that the three had not been freed as a direct result of military operations. Government sources denied that a deal had been struck with the captors.
Following their release the three met briefly with the Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Last week, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Paul Murphy, welcomed the news of the release. Mr Murphy said he hoped that Annetta and her colleagues "can now begin to put this dreadful experience behind them and carry on with their lives".
Ms Flanigan and her husband had reportedly planned to return home to Northern Ireland for Christmas shortly before she was kidnapped.
(MB)
The Co Armagh woman, who is originally from Richhill, arrived at Belfast City Airport on Sunday but left by a side entrance to evade waiting journalists.
Captured on October 28, along with two colleagues Shiqpe Hebibi from Kosovo and Filipino diplomat Angelito Nayan, Ms Flanigan spent 27 days in captivity.
Initial reports indicated that the trio had been freed as part of a series of successful security operations in Afghanistan, but a Nato spokesperson later said that the three had not been freed as a direct result of military operations. Government sources denied that a deal had been struck with the captors.
Following their release the three met briefly with the Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Last week, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Paul Murphy, welcomed the news of the release. Mr Murphy said he hoped that Annetta and her colleagues "can now begin to put this dreadful experience behind them and carry on with their lives".
Ms Flanigan and her husband had reportedly planned to return home to Northern Ireland for Christmas shortly before she was kidnapped.
(MB)
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The UN worker from County Armagh, Annetta Flanigan, who was held captive for 27 days in Afghanistan is expected to return home after a short holiday. Ms Flanigan is reported to have left the Afghan capital at the weekend for a break with her husband Jose, before going on to visit family and friends in Richhill, County Armagh.
Flanigan to return home after short holiday
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Efforts continue in bid to free NI woman
Efforts are continuing in a bid to free a Northern Ireland woman who was one of three people kidnapped in Afghanistan on Thursday. Annetta Flanigan was one of three foreign UN election workers kidnapped in the Afghanistan capital Kabul yesterday by a group calling itself the Army of Muslims.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
