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| Irish hostage's family 'over the moon' at his release in Algeria | Irish hostage's family 'over the moon' at his release in Algeria |
| (4 months later) | |
| The family of an Irishman who escaped from Islamist militants at a gas facility in Algeria said his captors tied explosives round his neck. | The family of an Irishman who escaped from Islamist militants at a gas facility in Algeria said his captors tied explosives round his neck. |
| Stephen McFaul, 36, from west Belfast, fled to safety after the vehicle he had been travelling in crashed after coming under attack from Algerian forces, said his brother Brian McFaul. | Stephen McFaul, 36, from west Belfast, fled to safety after the vehicle he had been travelling in crashed after coming under attack from Algerian forces, said his brother Brian McFaul. |
| The former hostage also told his wife that the Algerian army bombed four jeeps carrying fellow captives and probably killed many of them. | The former hostage also told his wife that the Algerian army bombed four jeeps carrying fellow captives and probably killed many of them. |
| Other members of the family have spoken of their joy after he was freed on Thursday, with his teenage son saying he would give him a "big hug" and not let go. | Other members of the family have spoken of their joy after he was freed on Thursday, with his teenage son saying he would give him a "big hug" and not let go. |
| Stephen McFaul, contacted his wife, Angela, at about 3pm to confirm he was no longer being held captive, Donna McBride, his sister, said. | Stephen McFaul, contacted his wife, Angela, at about 3pm to confirm he was no longer being held captive, Donna McBride, his sister, said. |
| "We are absolutely delighted that he is free and is unharmed," she said, adding that her brother was currently being debriefed by officials in Algeria. | "We are absolutely delighted that he is free and is unharmed," she said, adding that her brother was currently being debriefed by officials in Algeria. |
| His 13-year-old son Dylan said: "I feel over the moon, just really excited. I just can't wait for him to get home. I just can't wait, I'll never let him go back there." | His 13-year-old son Dylan said: "I feel over the moon, just really excited. I just can't wait for him to get home. I just can't wait, I'll never let him go back there." |
| Asked on Northern Irish TV channel UTV what he would do first when his father got home, Dylan replied: "Give him a big hug and I won't let go." | Asked on Northern Irish TV channel UTV what he would do first when his father got home, Dylan replied: "Give him a big hug and I won't let go." |
| McFaul, who who also has a four-year-old son, works as a supervising electrician at the natural gas pumping station stormed by Islamist gunmen on Wednesday. When McFaul realised the raid was taking place he hid in the living quarters of the facility, staying in touch with his brother Brian by mobile phone and text. After the gunmen found him he was allowed to make a final call to his family. | McFaul, who who also has a four-year-old son, works as a supervising electrician at the natural gas pumping station stormed by Islamist gunmen on Wednesday. When McFaul realised the raid was taking place he hid in the living quarters of the facility, staying in touch with his brother Brian by mobile phone and text. After the gunmen found him he was allowed to make a final call to his family. |
| His family then had an increasingly tense as they received conflicting news reports but had no clear idea of whether he was alive. Only when he called home on Thursday afternoon were they able to relax. | His family then had an increasingly tense as they received conflicting news reports but had no clear idea of whether he was alive. Only when he called home on Thursday afternoon were they able to relax. |
| "They were moving five jeep-loads of hostages from one part of the compound. At that stage they were intercepted by the Algerian army. The army bombed four out of five of the trucks and four of them were destroyed," Brian McFaul told Reuthers. | "They were moving five jeep-loads of hostages from one part of the compound. At that stage they were intercepted by the Algerian army. The army bombed four out of five of the trucks and four of them were destroyed," Brian McFaul told Reuthers. |
| "The truck my brother was in crashed and at that stage Stephen was able to make a break for his freedom," he said. "He presumed everyone else in the other trucks was killed." | "The truck my brother was in crashed and at that stage Stephen was able to make a break for his freedom," he said. "He presumed everyone else in the other trucks was killed." |
| The hostages had their mouths taped and explosives hung from around their necks, McFaul added. | The hostages had their mouths taped and explosives hung from around their necks, McFaul added. |
| McBride said: "He's a very kind person. He would do a lot for anybody, he would do anything for anyone. I can imagine out there he has probably done everything in his power to make sure everybody is safe. It is just a pity that some people have lost their lives." | McBride said: "He's a very kind person. He would do a lot for anybody, he would do anything for anyone. I can imagine out there he has probably done everything in his power to make sure everybody is safe. It is just a pity that some people have lost their lives." |
| McFaul's father, Christopher, told UTV it had been "a tough 48 hours but we've come through it. We're a strong family. It's been hard – I've tried to put a brave face on it." | McFaul's father, Christopher, told UTV it had been "a tough 48 hours but we've come through it. We're a strong family. It's been hard – I've tried to put a brave face on it." |
| He said his son was easygoing, happy go lucky and took everything in his stride. He added that he felt sorry for the other hostages and their families. | He said his son was easygoing, happy go lucky and took everything in his stride. He added that he felt sorry for the other hostages and their families. |
| His wife, Marie, said she was "delighted, thrilled to bits" that their son was safe. "We're very happy – over the moon." | His wife, Marie, said she was "delighted, thrilled to bits" that their son was safe. "We're very happy – over the moon." |
| Ireland's taoiseach, Enda Kenny, said he was relieved to hear McFaul was safe and well. | Ireland's taoiseach, Enda Kenny, said he was relieved to hear McFaul was safe and well. |
| "I believe he has already spoken to his family in Belfast and I wish him a safe return home to his loved ones," he said. "I would like to pay tribute to all those who have been involved in the effort to resolve this crisis and my thoughts are with the other oilfield workers and their families who have found themselves at the centre of this traumatic situation." | "I believe he has already spoken to his family in Belfast and I wish him a safe return home to his loved ones," he said. "I would like to pay tribute to all those who have been involved in the effort to resolve this crisis and my thoughts are with the other oilfield workers and their families who have found themselves at the centre of this traumatic situation." |
| McFaul is a former pupil of De La Salle College in west Belfast where Dylan is a year-nine pupil. | McFaul is a former pupil of De La Salle College in west Belfast where Dylan is a year-nine pupil. |
| Acting principal, Fiona Kane, acting principal, said: "We were very concerned and we were rallying round to support the family; that is very much part of our ethos. Dylan was in this morning to tell his form teacher and he'll be back in school on Monday. I think the family are taking tomorrow to celebrate." | Acting principal, Fiona Kane, acting principal, said: "We were very concerned and we were rallying round to support the family; that is very much part of our ethos. Dylan was in this morning to tell his form teacher and he'll be back in school on Monday. I think the family are taking tomorrow to celebrate." |
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