Hostages

The recent hostage taking event in Algeria which saw amongst the kidnapped workers an Irish national from the North ended in tragedy when algerian armed forces mounted an attack on hostage-takers. According to the BBC 69 people died including 39 non Algerian nationals.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamonn Gilmore had been making representations to Algerian authorities on behalf of the captured Irish citizen, Stephen McFaul who has since been released.

First of all I conveyed to him, as we have done already to his department and to the Algerian authorities, our concern for the safety of the Irish citizen who is being held captive and for whom we are working for his safe release.

Ireland has not been without hostage drama in its own troubled history. There were a spate of High profile kidnappings during the 1970s and 80s, including the most publicized, that of Dutch industrialist Dr Tiede Herrema who emerged safely from a three week ordeal and Garda siege at Monasterevin towards the close of 1975.

Two republican activists later served lengthy terms of imprisonment for their involvement in Dr Herrema's kidnapping.

Irish security forces lay siege to the Monasterevin house in which Tiede Herrema was held hostage

purchase prints @ Irish Photo Archive