Cork twins, Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf, who were separated by surgeons in London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital, have arrived home to Cork today, just one month after the operation.
The twins arrived at Cork airport this afternoon in an Air Corp Casa aircraft which transported them, their parents Angie and Azzedine and sisters Malika and Iman.
The boys were taken to the paediatric unit at Cork University Hospital, but are expected to return home to Carrigtwohill in Co Cork in a matter of days.
An Taoiseach Brian Cowen described the boys progress as "very heart warming". "They have been great battlers since December when they were born," he said. "We wish them and the family well in the months and years ahead."
The progress made by the twins, who were conjoined at the chest when born, has delighted the Great Ormond Street Hospital, from which they were discharged today: "They are doing really well. They are growing constantly and at a reasonable rate. I have no concerns," said surgeon, Edward Kiely, who led a team of specialists that operated on the boys for 14 hours.
Their parents, Angie and Azzedine Benhaffaf last night said: "We are so relieved and so happy to announce that our little fighters are coming home. All the prayers were answered and we thank God that it's all six of us returning home.
"Hassan and Hussein have gone through so much in their young lives already and now we hope that we can give them the happy future they both deserved," said the couple, who live in Carrigtwohill, outside Cork City.
Thanking the public for "their overwhelming love and support" and the press "for respecting our privacy and being so sensitive", the couple paid their warmest tribute to Great Ormond Street staff 'for giving our boys the incredible gift of separate lives'.
"As tough as the past year has been for all of us, we feel so much good has come out of this experience. Hassan and Hussein have brought out the best in everyone and reminded us all of the things that are important in life, which is family, unconditional love and above all hope," they said.
The twins, who were joined from chest to the pelvis, now each have one leg, but Mr Kiely told The Irish Times that he believed they will have "virtually everything they need, and I think they will lead virtually normal lives".
Both boys will need one prosthetic limb each but Mr Kiely said they are not expected to have to undergo any other medical procedures. He said the boys will go on to live normal lives once they are fitted with a prosthetic limb each.