D Thursday, November 12, 2009 METRO THATS YOUR LOTT He said: I am personally delighted and relieved to relay the news that Fr Michael Sinnott has been freed by his captives and handed over to the Philippine authorities. Declining to comment on the details of the priests release, Mr Martin said it rep- resents the successful conclusion of a ma- jor diplomatic effort by the Irish and Phil- ippine governments. He added: As in previous kidnaps, no ransom was paid by the Irish Government. To do so would only have jeopardised the vital work of aid workers and missionaries around the world it would also place other Irish citizens in danger. Taoiseach Brian Cowen said he was de- lighted to hear Fr Sinnott had been freed and commended all involved in negotia- tions. He said: I want to extend my best wishes to him on his safe release. He added officials will be working to en- sure a speedy return home for Fr Sinnott. Irish priest kidnapped by rebels is freed unharmedFATHER Michael Sinnott, the Irish priest who was kidnapped by rebels in the Philip- pines last month, was released yesterday. The Columban priest was abducted from his gated compound in Pagadian City on the island of Mindanao on October 11. The 79-year-old, from Barntown in Co Wexford, has a serious heart condition and has now been taken to a centre for a medical check-up. Foreign Affairs Minister Michel Martin confirmed no ransom was paid. by joanne ahern Fr Sinnott: no ransom 4m tobacco confiscated EIGHT tonnes of tobacco leaf, ready to be rolled into 12million cigarettes has been seized by customs in the second multi- million-euro cigarette haul in two weeks. The cargo arrived into Dublin Port on a ferry from Holyhead, marked as paper. Officers became suspicious and tailed a lorry carrying the 4million-worth of cargo to a warehouse in Monaghan. More than 120million cigarettes, worth 50million, were seized at Greenore port in Co Louth from a ship from the Philippines two weeks ago. Mayor sparks racism row THE mayor of Limerick has been accused of racism after calling for jobless immigrants to be deported. Fine Gael Cllr Kevin Kiely said anyone who cant afford to pay for themselves should be kicked out of the country, sparking an angry reaction from other political parties. Labour Party MEP Alan Kelly said: Racist comments like this have no place in the discourse and I believe that Cllr Kiely should now resign. And Sinn Fins Martin Ferris said Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny needed to distance himself from such bigotry. However, Cllr Kiely maintained: Im not racist. Kiely: racist remark Singer Pixie Lott arrives at the Cosmoplitan Women of the year awards at the banqueting house in London last night. She won the Ultimate newcomer award Picture: PA index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html