Tiede Herrema | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | April 24, 2020 | (aged 99)
Occupation | Businessman |
Known for | Being kidnapped by the Provisional IRA |
Spouse | Elizabeth 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 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]
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.[ citation needed]
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, 5 days after his wife's death and 3 days after his 99th birthday. [7] [1]
Tiede Herrema | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | April 24, 2020 | (aged 99)
Occupation | Businessman |
Known for | Being kidnapped by the Provisional IRA |
Spouse | Elizabeth 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 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]
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.[ citation needed]
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, 5 days after his wife's death and 3 days after his 99th birthday. [7] [1]