John Hely-Hutchinson, 7th Earl of Donoughmore

John Michael Henry Hely-Hutchinson, 7th Earl of Donoughmore (12 November 1902 – 1981), known until 1948 by his courtesy title Viscount Suirdale, was a British politician who later sat as a hereditary peer in the House of Lords.

Donoughmore is perhaps most famous for being kidnapped from Knocklofty House, Clonmel, in June 1974,[1] with his wife Dorothy by the IRA as a political hostage, being released after a week.[2]

Lord Donoughmore was the son of Richard Hely-Hutchinson, 6th Earl of Donoughmore. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Peterborough from 1943–1945. In 1948 he succeeded to all his father's peerages. In the military Donoughmore gained the rank of Colonel in the service of the Royal Armoured Corps (Territorial Army). He was chosen Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland in 1964, a post he held until his death.[3]

References

  1. "Couple formed unlikely bond with kidnappers". Sunday Independent. 15 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
  2. Joyce, Joe (10 June 2010). "Hostages teach IRA kidnappers all about racing". The Irish Times.
  3. Waite, Arthur Edward (2007). A New Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. vol. I. Cosimo, Inc. p. 400. ISBN 1-60206-641-8.

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
David Cecil, Lord Burghley
Member of Parliament for Peterborough
19431945
Succeeded by
Stanley Tiffany
Masonic offices
Preceded by
Raymond Fredrick Brooke
Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland
1964–1981
Succeeded by
The Marquess of Donegall
Peerage of Ireland
Preceded by
Richard Hely-Hutchinson
Earl of Donoughmore
1948 1981
Succeeded by
Richard Hely-Hutchinson