IRA kidnap victim gives papers to university

The Dutch industrialist who was the victim of the longest kidnapping in Irish history has donated his personal papers to the University of Limerick, it emerged today.

Dr Tiede Herrema, the former head of the Ferenka factory in Castletroy in Limerick, was snatched by an IRA gang on his work to work in October 1976.

He was held hostage for 36 days but was eventually released unharmed after a two-week Garda siege of the house where he was being kept in Monasterevin, Co Kildare.

Dr Herrema, now 84, said he had decided to give his papers about the abduction to the University of Limerick.

“I think they should have a good place after my death, and I don’t want my children to have trouble about it, so I decided to bring them back to Ireland,” he said.

The papers include worldwide newspaper cuttings about the case, personal tapes, a letter from the former Taoiseach Dr Liam Cosgrave, and well as letters from well-wishers all over the country.

However, Dr Herrema said the collection did not include the bullet which his kidnappers had used to threaten him.

“I still have it at home, it’s not going to the university,” he told RTÉ radio.

The kidnappers Eddie Gallagher and Marion Coyle, who had demanded the release of three fellow IRA members from prison, were sentenced to 20 years and 15 years in jail respectively.

After his release, Dr Herrema moved back to the Netherlands because his employers felt he was at risk in Ireland, and the Ferenka factory closed down with a loss of 1,400 jobs.

Dr Herrema said he had feared for his life at the start of the abduction but had also tried to build up a relationship with his kidnappers.

“It has partly to do with my education. I studied psychology and I know that it’s very difficult to kill somebody if you know him very well. It’s much easier to kill someone you don’t know,” he said.

He admitted that he had been in contact with Eddie Gallagher and Marion Coyle since but declined to reveal any further details.

He and his wife were granted Honorary Irish Citizenship and earlier this month both were received by President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin to mark the 30th anniversary of the kidnapping.