Family's joy at Gillian Gibbons' release from Sudan prison

Dec 3 2007

The family and friends of Liverpool teacher Gillian Gibbons, who was jailed for allowing her class to name a teddy bear Mohammed, have spoken of their joy after she was given a presidential pardon.

Her 25-year-old son John said from outside his home on Monday: “"I have spoken to the Prime Minister and the Foreign Office this morning.

"Gordon Brown called me himself to give me the good news but we are obviously reserving our complete excitement until she is on the plane home.

"We cannot be one hundred per cent thrilled until we see her.

"I want to thank the Government and particularly the Foreign Office for the work they have done and for keeping us informed right throughout this ordeal.

"We are very grateful to the President of Sudan for his decision to grant a pardon to my mother. It's a huge relief to us all.

"I'm sure she will be pleased that she is coming home but she will be embarrassed to see herself and all of us plastered across the television and the newspapers.

"It's been a very strange, surreal and very stressful week and we are very pleased that it is coming to an end.

"The last seven days has taught me that anything can happen in this life."

At the school Mrs Gibbons left in July there were scenes of joy.

Headteacher Gill Jones said: “On behalf of the staff, governors, parents and children of Dovecot Primary School, I would like to express our relief and delight at the news of Gillian Gibbons’ release.

“She and her family have been very much in all of our thoughts during these worrying few days. I hope she will now be allowed some time alone with her family to recuperate from her ordeal. We send her our love and best wishes.”