Relief and euphoria at news of priest's release

There was general relief last night as news spread that Mgr Desmond Hartford (54), the Irish Columban priest, had been released unharmed by Muslim guerrillas in the Philippines at about 5.25 p.m. yesterday (Irish time).

"It was the strangest day," said the Columban Fathers' vicar-general, Father Noel Connolly, last night, "and a terrible week of ups and downs."

The day had been dominated by reports that the Philippine military were about to use force to secure the priest's release.

Mgr Hartford is based at Marawi, the centre of the Islamic faith in the southern Philippines. He was kidnapped by former Moro National Liberation Front fighters in the town of Kolambugan on October 27th, in an effort to pressure the government to fulfil promises made to them.

At 5.20 p.m. yesterday Mrs Bernadette Hartford, the kidnapped priest's sister-in-law, received a phone call at her home in Lusk, Co Dublin. She recognised the voice at the other end, saying "Bernie, I'm fine." Mgr Hartford was still in captivity, but was allowed one phone call. It lasted "a couple of minutes". He was released just after talking to his brother, John.

He asked them to phone Father Nicholas Murray, superior general of the Columban Fathers, to say he was OK, Mrs Hartford said. "He'll always say he's grand," she said, "but he sounded OK."

When the Columban Fathers in Ireland contacted their colleagues in the Philippines to tell them the news, they were at first not believed. No one had told them, and they remained doubtful until they in turn were told by the Philippine authorities.

"We cannot express our relief," said Mrs Hartford. "Euphoric" was the word used by Father Murray. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, said he was "greatly relieved". He has asked Ireland's ambassador to Beijing, who is also accredited to the Philippines, to convey to President Ramos of the Philippines and his government his appreciation of their co-operation. Mgr Hartford was taken to Cagyan de Oro last night, where the Columban Fathers have a centre. He is expected to travel to Manila tomorrow.