How a kidnap ended in a Leitrim wood with a shootout as Don Tidey captive for 23 days was freed.
Supermarket boss Don Tidey was kidnapped on 24 November 1983 and was held captive for 23 days.
Presenter Pat Kenny introduces a report on how the search in difficult terrain of Leitrim culminated in the release of Don Tidey.
The area known as Derrada is located about four and a half miles from the town of Ballinamore, County Leitrim about ten miles from the Northern Ireland border. Don Tidey was being held captive in a wood at Dromcroman. After his release, Don Tidey accompanied by two policemen as made their way to the back road to Ballinamore. The kidnappers made their escape from the wood in the opposite direction with hostages in tow. The hostages were abandoned en route and the the kidnappers made their way to the house of Charlie McTague where they picked up a blue car and drove along the back road into Ballinamore. On the way, the kidnappers encountered the group accompanying Don Tidey.
Reporter Brendan O'Brien explains how events unfolded.
The intensive countrywide search for Don Tidey ended here in Drumcroman Wood, Derrada, four and a half miles from Ballinamore.
A 25 man search team, including armed Gardaí and soldiers, swept through the wood. A well concealed hideout was discovered and one of the kidnappers was spotted in the bushes dressed in Irish army battledress. Shots were fired and a stun grenade was thrown. Garda recruit Garry Sheehan and army Private Patrick Kelly were killed.
One of the kidnappers held a disarmed soldier at gunpoint. Other Gardaí who were in hiding were ordered out of under threat of their lives. Two soldiers who had been protecting the rear of the search party were ordered to surrender their weapons and were taken hostage. The gang now had seven hostages and took them back up through the wood. Three kidnappers were then joined by a fourth and possibly a fifth gang member. Some of the search party gave chase for a time but kept their distance for fear that their comrades would be shot. In the confusion, Don Tidey found himself free and was rescued by two Garda recruits.
He was shouting 'I'm Don Tidey' but they did not recognise him.
Dressed in army combat gear, the Gardaí feared Don Tidey might be one of the gang members. They took off his Wellington boots to prevent him from running away. Garda Inspector in charge Seamus O'Hanlon from Carrickmacross radioed for reinforcements but was unsure of his exact location and gave the wrong side of the wood.
The headquarters radio officer who knew the area best was at lunch. Army and Garda reinforcements were sent to the wrong location near Derrada Post Office. Rosaleen and PJ Prior who live in the area heard the sound of gunfire. In all the confusion, Gardaí thought they had captured an escaping kidnapper outside Deradda Post Office. Hugh Prior was stopped and detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against The State Act. He was driven away by a uniformed Garda with an armed detective in the backseat. Gardaí heard a message over the radio saying
For Christ's sake, don't shoot at the blue car. It's got a Garda in it and a prisoner.
Hugh Prior said he was taken along the road to the intersection near Rosaleen Prior's house. Shots were fired and Hugh Prior was grazed in the lower neck. Meanwhile, the kidnappers had taken their hostages across fields in the other direction. The hostages were then released. The gang then retreated to Charlie McTague's house.
Back in the wood, Don Tidey was bundled down towards the road as they still were not convinced he was the kidnapped victim. Detective Garda Seamus Fleming from Monaghan met them along the way and recognised Don Tidey.
Back at Charlie McTague's house, the kidnappers took a blue Opel Kadett and took off at high speed. This was just minutes after Gardaí had heard a message directing them not to shoot at the blue car. Within minutes, the kidnappers had reached the spot on the road where Don Tidey and the group of Gardaí were heading. The gang sprayed automatic fire at the group. Further along the road, unarmed Garda recruit Kevin Ring let off the handbrake of a Garda car to block the gang racing towards him and dived for cover. His plan worked and the Opel Kadett screached to a halt. The gang jumped out and ran across open fields. Two armed detectives arrived at the getaway spot and began firing at the kidnappers. However, they got away unharmed.
Don Tidey was found in a very remote wood and he was freed alive in a highly dangerous situation where two men did lose their lives.
This episode of 'Today Tonight' was broadcast on 11 January 1984. The presenter is Pat Kenny and the reporter is Brendan O'Brien.
