Kidnapped Mayo priest released in Nigeria

Family relieved as kidnapped priest released in Nigeria


Ciara Galvin

THE family of kidnapped Newport priest Fr Billy Sheridan have said they are ‘delighted’ to have their brother back following his release in Nigeria.
Fr Sheridan, who has worked with the Society of African Mission in Tungan Gero in the Kontagora area in the north-west of the country, was abducted on Tuesday last and held hostage up until his release on Friday.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday (Monday) Fr Billy’s sister Ann, said she and her family were ‘delighted to have him back as our brother’.
It is not yet known who is responsible for the priest’s kidnapping or whether a ransom was demanded in return for his release.
Fr Billy regularly returns to Mayo visiting sister Ann in Westport, sister Breda in Castlebar and his brother James in his native Newport. He was home for a time in July last year.
Three years ago it was Fr Billy who was tasked with relaying the horrific news to the family of Westport man Robert Gray, following Mr Gray’s fatal shooting in Nigeria.
Fr Billy travelled home to Mayo for the funeral and gave the homily at Mr Gray’s funeral Mass.