The Earl of Donoughmore and his wife Countess Dorothy taken at gunpoint from their home in Tipperary.
John Hely-Hutchinson, 7th Earl of Donoughmore and his 67 year old wife Countess Dorothy were abducted from their home at Knocklofty House in Clonmel. The couple were taken at gunpoint by three kidnappers and forced into a car.
Joseph Phelan, son of the Earl's chauffeur Tom Phelan, tells RTÉ News how the events unfolded. The Phelan family live on the Knocklofty Estate. At around 11 pm, there was a knock at the door and Tom Phelan went to answer it. Three masked men burst into the house declaring a holdup. Joseph Phelan his father Tom and mother Brigid, and a friend Donal McGrath, were ordered to drop to the floor. His sister Patricia, who was upstairs in bed, was brought down to join them.
We were all tied up with nylon stockings.
The intruders demanded information about how to access Knocklofty House and hit Tom Phelan a number of times over the head with a pistol. Brigid Phelan was also struck. Two of the men tried to get into Knocklofty House but failed and returned to the Phelan residence. This time, they took Joseph Phelan with them to help enter the house. Joseph Phelan tried to get in through the back entrance but both doors were locked. While the kidnappers were there, the Earl and Countess arrived at the house by car. A pistol shot was fired and a struggle ensued between the Earl and Countess and the gunmen. Joseph Phelan was pushed into the grass and the Earl and Countess were bundled into the back of a car which sped off.
Some blood was discovered on the ground but it is not known who was injured in the struggle.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 5 June 1974. The reporter is Tom MacSweeney.
