Richard Sykes (diplomat)

For other uses, see Richard Sykes (disambiguation).

Sir Richard Sykes (c. 1921 – 22 March 1979) was the British Ambassador to the Netherlands, who was assassinated by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) in The Hague in 1979. Others suspected of the assassination were Palestinians or Iraqis, although no evidence was ever put forward. It was ultimately confirmed that the PIRA had carried out the killings.^[1] Sykes' valet Karel Straub was also killed. Both men were shot in the head as they left the ambassador's residence for the short trip to the embassy.^[1]

Sykes' position as ambassador to the Netherlands had been strained due to certain Dutch groups which were sympathetic to the IRA, and consequent arms smuggling activities.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

Sykes had served in Havana, Peking and Washington, and was Deputy Under Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office prior to his appointment to the Netherlands in 1977.^[1]

Family

Married to Ann, Lady Sykes; the couple had three children.

References

1 2 3 BBC coverage of Sykes/Straub assassinations, accessed 30 August 2014.
↑ The Guardian coverage of Sykes/Straub assassinations, theguardian.com, accessed 30 August 2014.
↑ Straub profile, cain.ulst.ac.uk; accessed 6 August 2014.
↑ Assassination details, cain.ulst.ac.uk; accessed 6 August 2014.
↑ Report on assassinations, time.com; accessed 6 August 2014.

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Ernest John Ward Barnes	UK Ambassador to the Netherland 1977-1979	Succeeded by Sir John Taylor

Provisional Irish Republican Army

General

Organisation

Attacks

Insurgency, 1969–1977	Battle of St Matthew's Scottish soldiers' killings Balmoral showroom bombing Abercorn bombing Donegall St bombing Battle at Springmartin Bloody Friday Claudy bombing Coleraine bombings M62 coach bombing Guildford pub bombings British Airways bombing attempt Birmingham pub bombings Bayardo Bar attack Drummuckavall ambush Balcombe Street siege Kingsmill massacre

Long War, 1977–1988	Jonesboro Gazelle downing La Mon restaurant bombing Warrenpoint ambush Dunmurry train explosion Lough Foyle attacks Hyde Park and Regent's Park bombings Harrods bombing Brighton hotel bombing Newry mortar attack Ballygawley attack

Peace Process, 1988–1998	Corporals killings Lisburn van bombing Ballygawley bus bombing Jonesborough ambush Deal barracks bombing Derryard attack Derrygorry Gazelle downing RFA Fort Victoria bombing Proxy bombings Downing St mortar attack Mullacreevie ambush Glenanne barracks bombing Teebane bombing Cloghoge attack 1992 Manchester bombing South Armagh sniper campaign Warrington bomb attacks Cullaville occupation Bishopsgate bombing Battle of Newry Road Shankill Road bombing Crossmaglen Lynx downing Drumcree conflict Docklands bombing 1996 Manchester bombing Osnabrück mortar attack Thiepval barracks bombing Coalisland attack July 1997 riots

Chiefs of Staff

Seán Mac Stíofáin (1969–72)
Joe Cahill (1972–73)
Seamus Twomey (1973)
Éamonn O'Doherty (1973–74)
Seamus Twomey (1974–77)
Gerry Adams (1977–78)
Martin McGuinness (1978–82)
Ivor Bell (1982–83)
Kevin McKenna (1983–97)
Thomas "Slab" Murphy (1997–2005)

Personalities
(Volunteers)

Associates

Derivatives

Prominent killings

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Richard Sykes (diplomat)

Family

See also

References