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02/11/2009
Kidnap Priest Video Reveals 'Vital Clues'
A video of the captive priest Fr Sinnott has been released by his Philippine kidnappers, and is thought to contain "vital clues" to his exact location.
The video, obtained by reporters at the weekend, showed the 79-year-old priest making a statement under duress in which he said his kidnappers were demanding $2m (€1.35m) ransom for his freedom.
The Philippine military said the video could "determine or confirm the initial information that we have obtained, for example on the identity of the kidnappers and where they are".
Fr Sinnot has been missing for around three weeks after being taken opportunistically by a yet to be identified guerrilla group.
Fr Sinnott, who has a history of heart problems, said in the video he was being held by someone called Abu Jayad.
Mr Brawner of the Phillipine military said his intelligence community had checked the name and found out that this person is non-existent. "So we know now for a fact that this is a pseudonym or a code-name being used," he said.
Mr Brawner said the video also showed vegetation that once analysed could pinpoint the location of Fr Sinnott.
However, despite the breakthrough, Kidnappers holding Fr Michael Sinnott have been told none of the sides pressing for his release will hand over the $2m (€1.36m) ransom they demanded.
Yesterday, the Irish and Philippine governments and the Columban missionaries all reasserted that no ransom would be paid.
A spokesman for the Philippine government rejected the ransom demand, saying they would "stick to the international policy of paying no ransom".
Six armed men seized Fr Sinnott on 11 October from the Society of St Columban's mission house in Pagadian city, on the strife-torn southern island of Mindanao.
He is believed to have been taken to a jungle area in nearby Lanao del Norte province, where Muslim separatist rebels and other armed groups are known to operate.
(DW/BMcC)
The video, obtained by reporters at the weekend, showed the 79-year-old priest making a statement under duress in which he said his kidnappers were demanding $2m (€1.35m) ransom for his freedom.
The Philippine military said the video could "determine or confirm the initial information that we have obtained, for example on the identity of the kidnappers and where they are".
Fr Sinnot has been missing for around three weeks after being taken opportunistically by a yet to be identified guerrilla group.
Fr Sinnott, who has a history of heart problems, said in the video he was being held by someone called Abu Jayad.
Mr Brawner of the Phillipine military said his intelligence community had checked the name and found out that this person is non-existent. "So we know now for a fact that this is a pseudonym or a code-name being used," he said.
Mr Brawner said the video also showed vegetation that once analysed could pinpoint the location of Fr Sinnott.
However, despite the breakthrough, Kidnappers holding Fr Michael Sinnott have been told none of the sides pressing for his release will hand over the $2m (€1.36m) ransom they demanded.
Yesterday, the Irish and Philippine governments and the Columban missionaries all reasserted that no ransom would be paid.
A spokesman for the Philippine government rejected the ransom demand, saying they would "stick to the international policy of paying no ransom".
Six armed men seized Fr Sinnott on 11 October from the Society of St Columban's mission house in Pagadian city, on the strife-torn southern island of Mindanao.
He is believed to have been taken to a jungle area in nearby Lanao del Norte province, where Muslim separatist rebels and other armed groups are known to operate.
(DW/BMcC)
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The freed priest, Fr Michael Sinnott - who is resting at the Columban missionaries' compound in the capital Manila after a 32-day kidnap ordeal - is to remain in the country. The 79-year-old cleric, who suffers from a serious heart problem, said his captors treated him well and he remained in good health despite the primitive conditions.
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The freed priest, Fr Michael Sinnott - who is resting at the Columban missionaries' compound in the capital Manila after a 32-day kidnap ordeal - is to remain in the country. The 79-year-old cleric, who suffers from a serious heart problem, said his captors treated him well and he remained in good health despite the primitive conditions.
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Just over a month after his kidnap, an elderly Irish priest has been released from captivity in the Philippines. Speaking today, he has told how he hiked through jungles, survived raging seas and slept in a swamp under a tarpaulin before his release.
23 October 2009
Columbans Deny Reports Of Priest's Death
The Columban Fathers in the Philippines have denied reports the kidnapped Irish priest Fr Michael Sinnott is dead. The religious order is locked in negotiations for release of the 79-year-old Fr Sinnott's who was abducted by an armed gang in the city of Pagadian while taking a stroll on 11 October.
Columbans Deny Reports Of Priest's Death
The Columban Fathers in the Philippines have denied reports the kidnapped Irish priest Fr Michael Sinnott is dead. The religious order is locked in negotiations for release of the 79-year-old Fr Sinnott's who was abducted by an armed gang in the city of Pagadian while taking a stroll on 11 October.
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