Flynn under surveillance during kidnap and siege

Herrema kidnapping: At the height of the crisis the Dutch government suggested that Phil Flynn be given more leeway, writes Joe Humphreys.

Former trade unionist Phil Flynn was kept under surveillance by gardaí during the IRA kidnapping of Dutch industrialist Tiede Herrema in 1975, declassified records show.

A document copied to taoiseach Liam Cosgrave on October 22nd, 1975, three weeks into the kidnapping, indicates that Flynn's movements were being monitored, even though he was acting as an "intermediary" in the affair.

Flynn, then Sinn Féin vice-president and assistant secretary general of the Local Government and Public Services Union, was seen by the Dutch authorities as a key figure in efforts to secure the safe release of Herrema.

The document, contained in Department of the Taoiseach files, expressed the view of Dutch foreign minister Max van der Stoel that, "in the present circumstances, it looks as if Flynn as an intermediary might offer the best chance of bringing the affair to a successful conclusion".

In a translated message, Van der Stoel said he had "learned that Flynn is considering giving up his task because he is given insufficient freedom to fulfil his intermediary role. The latter fact would have a particular importance, should his mission fail and the matter end up in a fatal way."

The Dutch minister continued: "The Dutch government from the beginning have asked that the Irish government do all that they can to secure the safety of Dr Herrema.

"They will not exercise influence as to how the Irish government deal with the details of the matter.

"But this particular aspect of the intermediary role of Flynn should get its proper emphasis, and therefore they would ask the government of Ireland to give Flynn the type of liberty he needs to fulfil his mission."

The departmental document, which was unsigned, said the Dutch government appeared to be asking for two contradictory things.

"Was the message implying . . . surveillance [ of Flynn] should cease? If so, then to ask the Irish authorities to do all that they could to secure Dr Herrema's release, actions which of course included close surveillance of Flynn as a means of tracing Dr Herrema, would appear to be incompatible with an implicit request for the desistance [ sic] of surveillance".

It was pointed out that Flynn had "complete freedom of movement physically but presumably he is being kept under surveillance".

Herrema was released on November 7th, 1975, after 36 days in captivity.

His kidnappers Eddie Gallagher and Marian Coyle surrendered when their hideout was discovered by gardaí.

The pair were later disowned by the IRA, which claimed the kidnapping had not been sanctioned by the organisation.

Most of the files released relating to the crisis were letters of congratulations to the Cosgrave government for refusing to negotiate with the kidnappers.

One such letter of congratulation came from Margaret Thatcher, the recently-elected leader of the Tory opposition in Britain.

She wrote to Cosgrave on November 14th, 1975: "Your firm handling of the situation has brought applause and international respect.

"I hope your example will be followed by other countries in their dealings with terrorism. We all admire the courageous action which you and your government took to uphold the rule of law."

Another letter of congratulations came from the International Catholic Priests' Association in Sussex.

Its secretary, Fr John W Flanagan, seized the opportunity to compliment the government also on its hardline stance against the legalisation of contraception.

He said all 1,963 priests in the association were "solidly opposed to [ then senator] Mary Robinson's Bill" on the issue. "At our meetings, they express their alarm lest this nefarious Bill should reach the statute book. We beg you to lead the nation again, so that it will continue to have its long tradition of loyalty to the Church of Christ an unbroken one."

The taoiseach replied: "I appreciate all you say in your letter and I am grateful to you for your good wishes and blessings."

Cosgrave wrote to Herrema on the day of his release, expressing "the admiration of the government" for the way in which he endured his captivity.