Rose Dugdale was charged with the robbery of 19 valuable paintings from Russborough House.
As part of an IRA gang, Rose Dugdale had stolen them from the stately home of Sir Alfred and Lady Clementine Beit on 26 April 1974. The paintings were later recovered in Cork. The 33 year old British heiress had been charged with theft from her wealthy father's art collection the previous year.
A garda van carrying Rose Dugdale under army escort arrives at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. The tight security presence includes members of the Special Branch. Rose Dugdale ignored the court, where she was charged with 5 offences in relation to the Russborough House theft and 5 additional offences in relation to possession of explosive substances and firearms at Ards, Creeslough in Dublin.
As she left, Rose Dugdale looked at the public gallery and muttered that there were still 4 people on hunger strike in England and an army of occupation in a small part of Ireland, but not for long.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 6 May 1974. The reporter is Tom McCaughren.
Russborough House
