Kidnapping of Tiede 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.

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

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.[1] After being liberated by Soviet forces, he walked 500 km to American lines.[1] 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.[2]

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.[2] The kidnappers demanded the release of three IRA prisoners, including Rose Dugdale.[3]

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.[4] He left Ireland soon after.

Aftermath

He eventually returned to Ireland to present an episode of Saturday Live in 1987.[5] He and his wife Elizabeth were made honorary Irish citizens in 1975,[6] and he was made a Freeman of the city of Limerick. In 2005, he donated his personal papers to the University of Limerick.[4] Herrema died in April 2020, only two days after his wife's death and less than a week after his 99th birthday.[7][1]

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.
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