The Dutch industrialist Tiede Herrema – kidnapped almost 40 years ago in Limerick by a breakaway IRA faction – met today with President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin.
Mr Herrema was abducted on October 3rd, 1975 as he was leaving home to go to the Ferenka factory – the city’s biggest employer at the time – that he ran.
The kidnappers were traced to a house in Co Kildare and Dr Herrema was released more than a month after his kidnapping.
Speaking to RTÉ today, Mr Herrema said he had “come home” to Ireland and bore no ill will to Eddie Gallagher – one of his captors whom he has met. He said Mr Gallagher was a very friendly young man”.
