Twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf have arrived back in Cork.
An Air Corp Casa aircraft carrying them, their parents Angie and Azzedine and sisters Malika and Iman landed at Cork airport this afternoon.
It is the first time the twins have been home since they underwent a 16-hour operation to separate them, at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, just over six weeks ago.
The twins were transferred by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where they are expected to spend a number of days.
The medical teams in both hospitals have been liaising in advance of the boys' return to Ireland.
Consultant Paediatrician with Cork University Hospital, Deirdre Murray, said, ‘Professor Hourihane and the CUH Paediatric Team have been liaising with the medical staff in Great Ormond Street regarding their care.
‘We're delighted to hear that they done very well following their surgery and we are looking forward to getting to know them.
‘We also know that their parents are looking forward to spending some quiet time with them as a family after a difficult few months.’
Consultant Paediatric Surgeon Edward Kiely, who oversaw the operation to separate the twins, said the hospital was delighted with their progress.
He said the twins were now two very independent little boys with every chance of a great future.
The baby boys, born on 2 December 2009, were joined from the chest to the pelvis, sharing liver, gut and bladder, but critically their hearts were not joined.
And, according to Mr Kiely, that made the task of separating Hassan and Hussein relatively straightforward.
Since the operation on 7 April, both boys have been thriving and their return home today is weeks ahead of schedule.
