Kidnapping of Tiede Herrema
In October 1975, Dutch businessman Tiede Herrema was kidnapped by the Provisional IRA in Castletroy, near Limerick. This triggered a large Garda investigation and a two-week siege, after which Herrema was released unharmed.
Biography
Tiede Herrema was born in Zuilen in 1921. During World War II, he was arrested by Nazis because he was in the Dutch resistance, and was sent to the Ratibor forced labour 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.