In the early 1980s, there was a series of kidnap-for-ransom crimes committed in the Republic by the Provisional IRA in order to raise funds to finance their organisation and its terrorist operations here and in the UK.

One of the victims of these abductions was prominent businessman, Don Tidey, and Englishman who was the senior executive of the Quinnsworth group of supermarkets. Tidey was held for 23 days in Derrada wood, Co Leitrim. He as rescued by the gardai and the army, but a garda probationer and an army private were killed during the operation.

Though a number of people were charged in relation to the kidnap, no one has ever been charged in relation to the two killings.

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Theme Music:

Quinn’s Song: The Dance Begins Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Additional Music:   Allemande (Sting) by Wahneta Meixsell. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Sources:

Offences Against the State Act, 1939. Find it here: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1939/act/13/enacted/en/print#sec36 

Vannini, Marco & Detotto, Claudio & Mccannon, Bryan.. “Ransom Kidnapping.” in (eds) Jurgen Georg Backhaus Encyclopedia of Law and Economics (Springer,  2015) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273574256_Ransom_Kidnapping 

“Quiet man of stores group” in The Irish Times (25 November 1983) p. 1.   

Brian Donaghy, Peter Murtagh and Padraig Yeates, “ Gardai in nationwide hunt for kidnappers” in The Irish Times (25 November 1983) p. 1.   

Brian Donaghy, Peter Murtagh and Padraig Yeates, “Gardai hunt kidnap gang” in The Irish Times (25 November 1983) p. 6.   

Peter Murtagh, “Kidnapping now an insurance high risk” in The Irish Times (25 November 1983) p. 6.   

“Grocery chain is Republic’s largest” in The Irish Times (25 November 1983) . 6.   

“Abduction is latest in two year outbreak” in The Irish Times (25 November 1983) p. 6.   

“Kerry Gardai in search for gang” in The Irish Times (26 November 1983) p. 6 

“Kerry Gardai in search for IRA kidnap gang” in The Irish Times (26 November 1983) p. 1.   

Peter Murtagh, “Some of kidnap gang known” in The Irish Times (28 November 1983) p. 1 

“Man charged in Tralee” in The Irish Times (28 November 1983) p.1.   

Peter Murtagh, “Gardai question three over Tidey kidnap” in The Irish Times (29 November 1983) p. 1.   

Peter Murtagh, “Garda RUC relations cool over Dowra” in The Irish Times (30 November 1983) p. 1.   

Peter Murtagh, “Leitrim still the focus of search” in the Irish Times (30 November 1983) p. 1.   

“Arrest of two in Kerry linked to Tidey kidnap” in The Irish Times (1 December 1983) p. 1.  

Peter Murtagh “Ransom Payment  totally opposed, Noonan tells Dail” in The Irish Times (2 December 1983) p. 1.   

David McKitterick and Peter Murtagh, “£5m ransom will not be paid, says company” in The Irish Times (3 December 1983) p. 1.   

Peter Murtagh, “Four held in kidnap search” in The Irish Times (6 December 1983) p.1. 

“Three freed in kidnap inquiry” in The Irish Times (7 December 1983) p. 5.  

“Bail refused in imprisoning case” in The Irish Times (9 December 1983) p. 10.   

“Tralee man on Tidey charge granted bail” in The Irish Times (10 December 1983) p. 10.   

“Army convoy drafted in as Tidey hunt intensifies” in The Irish Times (15 December 1983) p. 1.   

“Kidnappers renew demand  for £5m ransom” in The Irish Times (16 December 1983) p. 1.   

Peter Murtagh, “Soldier and Garda killed by gang as Tidey is freed” in The Irish Times (17 December 1983) p.1 

Peter Murtagh, “Two killed as Tidey is freed” in The Irish Times (17 December 1983) p.7 

Niall Kiely, “Man shot accidentally at road block” in The Irish Times (17 December 1983) p. 1.  

“Speak out’ call to Church” in The Irish Times (17 December 1983) p.1 

“Thatcher sends congratulations” in The Irish Times (17 December 1983) p.1 

Niall Kiely, “Machine guns, black faces in country village” in The Irish Times (17 December 1983) p.1 

Padraig Yeates, “IRA action creates crisis for Sinn Fein” in in The Irish Times (17 December 1983) p.6. 

“Town has strong Republican links” in The Irish Times (17 December 1983) p.6. 

“Ten treated for shock and one for bullet wound” in The Irish Times (17 December 1983) p. 6.   

“22 days since Tidey taken outside home” in in The Irish Times (17 December 1983) p.6.  

“Soldier was father of four” in in The Irish Times (17 December 1983) p.6.   

“Daughter was ‘kept in dark’” in The Irish Times (17 December 1983) p. 7.   

Dick Walsh, “Cabinet to consider banning Sinn Fein” in in The Irish Times (19 December 1983) p.1 

Ed Moloney, “Gunmen were doing their duty – Adams” in in The Irish Times (19 December 1983) p.1 

“Gardai release six held after kidnap” in in The Irish Times (19 December 1983) p. 10. 

Martin Crowley, “Recruits form guard of honour at funeral of gunmen’s victim” in in The Irish Times (19 December 1983) p. 10.   

Michael Finlan, “tears shed for dead soldier” in The Irish Times (19 December 1983) p. 10. 

Peter Murtagh, “Kidnapper tried to kill Tidey as he escaped” in The Irish Times (19 December 1983) p. 7.   

“Shot Leitrim man still seriously ill” in in The Irish Times (19 December 1983) p. 8. 

Dick Walsh, “Leaders in contact on kidnapping” in The Irish Times (19 December 1983) p.8

Mary Maher, “Tidey evades questions about cuts on his face” in The Irish Times (19 December 1983) p. 9.   

“IRA admits Leitrim killings” in The Irish Times (19 December 1983) p. 9.   

Peter Murtagh, “Rangers move in as kidap gang hunt intensifies” in The Irish Times (20 December 1983) p. 1. 

Peter Murtagh, “Arms found as search continues” in The Irish Times (21 December 1983) p. 1 

Olivia O’Leary, “Leitrim people ‘afraid to show real admiration’” in The Irish Times (22 December 1983) p. 7. 

Peter Murtagh, “Fewer gardai hunt gang” in The Irish Times (23 December 1983) p.1 

“Farmer on Tidey kidnapping charge”  in The Irish Times (23 December 1983) p. 1 

Niall Kiely, “Ballinamore Sinn Fein function is cancelled” in The Irish Times (23 December 1983) p. 7.   

“Bail refused in kidnap case” in The Irish Times (26 December 1983) p. 1.   

“Maze link in Tdey kidnap” in The Irish Times (29 December 1983) p. 7.   

“Hunt for INLA leader fails” in The Irish Times (30 December 1983) p. 1.   

“Kidnap arrest may have been unlawful – judge” in The Irish Times (11 January 1984) p. 1, 6.   

“Conditional bail granted to Ballinamore farmer” in The Irish Times (13  January 1984) p. 8.  

“Bail on Tidy charge granted” in The Irish Times (13 January 1984) p. 8.   

“Leitrim farmer on Tidey charge” The Irish Times (14 January 1984) p. 17.   

“Corkman who helped McGlinchey was an ‘old fool,’ says Judge” in The Irish Times (23 February 1984) p. 8. 

“April start for Tidey kidnap trial” in The Irish Times (9 March 1984) p. 8. 

“Warrant out for Mayo man” in The Irish Times (9 March 1984) p. 8.     

Peter Murtagh“Inquests tomorrow  on two killed in Ballinamore” in The Irish Times (12 March 1984) p. 8. 

Niall Kiely, “Ballinamore killing recalled at inquest” in The Irish Times ( 14 March 1984) p. 9.   

Peter Murtagh, “Lessons to be learned from Ballinamore” in The Irish Times (26 March 1984) p. 13. 

“Tidey tells court he was hooded and chained” in The Irish Times (4 April 1984) p. 10.  

 “Farmer denies he knew Tidey was in Derrada Wood” in The Irish Times (5 April 1984) p. 10. 

“Kidnap trial told of farmer’s safety fears” in The Irish Times (6 April1984) p. 8. 

“Leitrim farmer found guilty, another cleared in Tidey kidnap case” in The Irish Times (7 April 1984) p. 8.   

“Man gets 7 years for his part in kidnapping” in  in The Irish Times (12 April 1984) p. 10.  

“Sentence today in Tidey case”  in The Irish Times (11 April 1984) p. 10.   

“Bail for man on kidnap charge”  in The Irish Times (13 September 1984) p. 6.   

“Tidey tells court of kidnap ordeal last November”  in The Irish Times (10 October 1984) p. 8

“Man admits hiring Tidey kidnap car” in The Irish Times (11 October 1984) p. 8.   

“3 years for role in Tidey kidnap”  in The Irish Times (12 October 1984) p.8.  

“Quinnsworth head tells court how he was kidnapped” in The Irish Times (20 June 1985) p. 10. 

“Man denied Tidey kidnap” in The Irish Times (21 June 1985) p. 8.   

“Gardai say neighbour identified Tidey kidnapper” in The Irish Times (22 June 1985) p. 10 

“Kidnap suspect objected to identity parade” in The Irish Times  (26 June 1985) p. 7.   

“Ex – army man jailed for Tidey kidnap” in The Irish Times (27 June 1985) p. 8.    

Jim Cusack and Basil Miller, “Maze escapers and gun shipment seized by Dutch” in The Irish Times  (17 January 1986) p. 1.   

“Go ahead given for kidnap trial” from BBC NEWS http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6161347.stm (8 December 2006)   

“Republican will face kidnap trial” from BBC NEWS http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4782270.stm (7 March 2006)  

 Vivion Kilfeather, “Supreme Court clears way for McFarlene kidnap trial” in The Irish Examiner (6 March 2008) https://archive.is/20120616060609/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2008/03/06/story57024.asp#selection-1701.1-1701.348 

“McFarlene launches second judicial review” from RTE.ie https://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0515/76265-mcfarlaneb/ (15 May 2006)  

“McFarlene trial opens today” from TodayFM.com https://web.archive.org/web/20110717065409/http://news.todayfm.com/story.asp?sid=15262 (11 June 2008)  

“Maze escaper kidnap case collapse” from BBC NEWS http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7475724.stm (26 June 2008)   

“Maze escapee Bik McFarlene wins Irish government damages” from BBC NEWS https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-11259072 (10 September 2010)  

“IRA may have got money from insurance firm” in The Irish Times (25 February 1985) p. 8.  

Ella Shanahan, “Noonan calls for ban on kidnap insurance” in The Irish Times (19 July 1985) p. 1. 

Padraig Yeates, “Swiss bank ordered to disclose IRA fund details” in The Irish Times (21 November 1985) p. 1.   

Sean Flynn, “Store group ‘paid £2m to IRA’” in The Irish Times (2 December 1985) p 8.   

Conor O’Clery, “No evidence on Tidey extortion allegation – Scott” in The Irish Times (16 December 1985) p. 6.   

Conor O’Clery, “No proof of IRA payment, MP told” in The Irish Times (20 December 1985) p. 9.   

Jim Cusack, “Paying off the IRA not to kill and kidnap” in The Irish Times (16 March 1990) p. 13.   

Niall Kiely, “No official knowledge of ransom pay-out” in The Irish Times (20 February 1985) p. 9.   

Ireland’s Most Shocking Crimes – The Kidnapping of Don Tidey  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP1hpT01nrI

Scannal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y294tqcSVQk 

Today Tonight 16 Dec 1983 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKY-BM3MG6U 

Wikis: 

John Joe McGirl https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Joe_McGirl 

Special Criminal Court https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Criminal_Court 

Brendan McFarlene https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brendan_McFarlane