Siamese twin who survived is allowed to go home

The Siamese twin Gracie Attard (formerly known as Jodie) went home for the first time yesterday, seven months after the operation that secured her future but cost the life of her dependent sister.

Gracie's parents, who have beenat the centre of a complex and controversial legal battle ever since they and their daughters arrived in Britain, delivered a final verdict, saying they were grateful that judges had intervened in the case.

The operation to separate Gracie from her twin seven months ago, against the wishes of the parents, meant she survived but her sister, Rosie, died. Michaelangelo and Rina Attard, strict Roman Catholics from the Maltese island of Gozo, had strenuously fought against the surgery because they knew it would kill Rosie, but were overruled in court.

A final court appearance last week saw the lifting of orders that cleared the way for a media deal worth an estimated £350,000 with two newspapers, a magazine and a television programme.

"My wife, Rina, and I didn't want to separate them ever. It was against our strong religious beliefs," Mr Attard, 44, said. "Of course we're now happy that we still have Gracie ­ this is the greatest Father's Day gift I could ever have wished for."

Yesterday the Attards were driven from St Mary's Hospital in Manchester, where 22 surgeons and nurses did the operation, to the city's airport.

The money from the deals will be put into a trust fund for Gracie to be used for any medical treatment she needs as she grows up. She faces years of reconstructive surgery.

Gracie and Rosie were born with fused spines and joined at the abdomen. Their arms and legs were joined at right angles to their upper bodies. Surgeons went to the High Court to win the right to separate them but Mr and Mrs Attard believed the twins' fate should be left in the hands of God. They challenged the decision to operate in a privately funded appeal but three appeal judges said the operation should go ahead.

Without surgery, both twins would have died because Rosie was sapping the life from Gracie, whose heart and lungs were keeping them both alive. Rosie was buried earlier this year on Gozo.

Adrian Bianchi, a paediatric consultant from St Mary's Hospital, said Gracie had made an excellent recovery and doctors were very pleased with her progress."While there are currently no plans to see Gracie in the near future we will continue to monitor her progress and see her from time to time," he said. "Gracie is mentally ahead for her age and we expect her to lead a full and normal life. Gracie can look forward to normal relationships and to a family of her own."