State Papers: Donation to Garda fund after release of kidnapped Dutch industrialist 'far too large'

Tiede Herrema showing the bullet given to him by Eddie Gallagher just before his release in November 1975.

Civil servants in Ireland expressed concern that the offer of a IR£5,000 contribution to the Garda Benevolent Fund from the government of the Netherlands following the successful release in 1975 of kidnapped Dutch industrialist, Tiede Herrema, was “far too large.” 

Newly-released State papers show the Department of Foreign Affairs were monitoring both diplomatic and media coverage of the kidnapping of Dr Herrema by the IRA because of its potential impact on foreign direct investment in Ireland.