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Kidnapping of Tiede Herrema

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Dutch businessman
Tiede Herrema
Born(1921-04-21)April 21, 1921
Zuilen, Netherlands
DiedApril 24, 2020(2020-04-24) (aged 99)
Arnhem, Netherlands
OccupationBusinessman
Known forBeing kidnapped by the Provisional IRA
SpouseElizabeth Herrema

In October 1975, Dutch businessman Tiede Herrema (21 April 1921 – 24 April 2020) was kidnapped by the Provisional IRA in Castletroy, near Limerick. This triggered a large police investigation and a two-week siege, after which Herrema was released unharmed.

Biography

Tiede Herrema was born in Zuilen (then a municipality, today part of Utrecht) in 1921. During World War II, he was arrested by Nazis because he was in the Dutch resistance, and was sent to a concentration camp in Poland. After being liberated by Soviet forces, he walked 500 km to American lines. In the 1970s, Herrema ran a wire factory, Ferenka, in the city of Limerick, Ireland. At the time, this was the city's biggest employer, with approximately 1,400 workers.

Kidnapping and rescue

On the morning of 3 October 1975, having just left his home in Castletroy near Limerick, Herrema was abducted by Provisional Irish Republican Army members Eddie Gallagher and Marion Coyle. The kidnappers demanded the release of three IRA prisoners, including Rose Dugdale.

After a massive security operation, the kidnappers were eventually traced on 21 October 1975 to a house in Monasterevin, County Kildare. After a further two-week-long siege, Herrema was released, shaken, but unharmed. He left Ireland soon after.

Aftermath

He eventually returned to Ireland to present an episode of Saturday Live in 1987. He and his wife Elizabeth were made honorary Irish citizens in 1975, and he was made a Freeman of the city of Limerick. In 2005, he donated his personal papers to the University of Limerick. Herrema died in April 2020, 5 days after his wife's death and 3 days after his 99th birthday.

See also

References

  1. ^ McGreevy, Ronan (27 April 2020). "'Great friend of Ireland': IRA kidnap victim Tiede Herrema dies aged 99". Irish Times. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  2. ^ "IRA kidnap victim returns to city". BBC News. 18 October 2005. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  3. "The Hostage Dilemma". Time. 20 October 1975. Archived from the original on 22 January 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  4. ^ "Herrema donating papers to UL library". RTÉ News. 18 October 2005. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  5. "The Dr Tiede Herrema Papers" (PDF). University of Limerick. April 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  6. "Parliamentary Debates (Official Report - Unrevised) Dáil Éireann Tuesday, 30 November 2004". Houses of the Oireachtas. 30 November 2004. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  7. "President Higgins pays tribute to Tiede Herrema". RTÉ News. 27 April 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.

External links

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