IRISH REPUBLIC: ULSTER CLERGYMAN ARLOW, WHO PLAYED KEY PART IN I.R.A. CEASEFIRE TALKS, MEDIATES IN IRISH KIDNAPPING CASE

Record ID: 584726

  • Title: IRISH REPUBLIC: ULSTER CLERGYMAN ARLOW, WHO PLAYED KEY PART IN I.R.A. CEASEFIRE TALKS, MEDIATES IN IRISH KIDNAPPING CASE
  • Date: 5th October 1975
  • Summary: 1. SV Ulster clergyman William Arlow (glasses and raincoat) out of car and towards jail 0.14 2. GV ZOOM OUT Police, children, parked car 0.27 3. GV Arlow (right) walks back to car with Sinn Fein official Bill Smith (left) 0.35 4. CU ZOOM OUT Armed soldiers with police search cars watch road (3 shots) 1.01 5. SV INTERIOR Detective looking through documents (4 shots) 1.17 In a new development in the Irish kidnapping, Ulster clergyman, the Reverend William Arlow visited two of the I.R.A. prisoners held in Portleasha Jail to try and find a way of releasing Dutch industrialist Dr. Tiede Herrema. Mr. Arlow was a key figure in talks with the Provisional I.R.A. last year before the I.R.A. ceasefire. Martin Bell reports. "It was the introduction of Mr. Arlow as an independent mediator that persuaded the Irish Government to acquiesce. He gained the confidence of all sides during the secret I.R.A. prisoners are held. Inside, according to the Irish Government, the mediators saw Kevin ??? on and James Hyland, the two Provisional whose release the gang are demanding for the life of Doctor Herrema. But they failed target a signed statement from then, condemning the kidnapping. Irish troops have been manning road blocks jointly with the police-who are not armed-as they check traffic for any sign of the hostage or his kidnappers. But the police have no idea where they are. The only clue is that someone saw a green Cortina car near Doctor Herrena's house and that two such cars stolen in Limerick and Listole, forty miles away are still missing. Earlier in the day the orthodox police search which is still centred in Limerick, had been thought less likely to yield results than the attempts being made to persuade the prisoners ......there, and in Portleasha to disassociate themselves for the demands for their release. But now that attempt has collapsed the best hopes seems to lie once more with the manhunt." Initials CL/0143 2140/2215/0200 This film is serviced with a report in English by BBC reporter Martin Bell, a transcript of which appears overleaf. Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th October 1975 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: IRISH REPUBLIC
  • Country: Ireland
  • Reuters ID: LVAS91B93W2MVU7KQXYCT0NRBMN
  • Story Text: Ulster Protestant clergyman, the Reverend William Arlow, who played a key role in the I.R.A. ceasefire negotiations last year, intervened in the Irish kidnapping case on Sunday (5 October) with a visit to Portleasha Jail near Dublin.

    Mr. Arlow was accompanied by Sinn Fein representative, Mr. Bill Smith, and they tried to persuade I.R.A. prisoners Kevin Mallon and James Hyland to sign a statement condemning the kidnapping of Dutch businessman, Dr. Tiede Herrema. The kidnap gang have declared that they'll spare the life of Dr. Herrema. The kidnap gang have declared that they'll spare the life of Dr. Herrema if the two Provisional -- and I.R.A. sympathiser, Dr. Bridget Rose Dugdale are freed.

    However, Mallon and Hyland rejected the mediators; requests for the signing of the document. No immediate explanation as to why they refused was given.

    Meanwhile, armed Irish soldiers and unarmed police continued the search for the kidnap gang. The police had hoped the intervention by Mr. Arlow might have achieved some success. However, after its failure they were pinning their hopes that the dragnet thrown around the Limerick area -- from where Dr. Herrema was kidnapped -- would produce results.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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