Northern Ireland

Rose Dugdale in court after stolen art find – On This Day in 1974

Art treasures worth £8 million were taken by the IRA from Russborough House in Co Wicklow

Rose Dugdale, a former English aristocrat who led a notorious IRA art heist, has died
Rose Dugdale, the English aristocrat who led an IRA art heist at Russborough House in Co Wicklow (PA/PA)
By Cormac Moore
May 6 1974

A woman held by gardaí after the recovery of stolen art treasures worth more than £8,000,000 will appear at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.

She is being held at Dublin’s Bridewell Garda Station, where she is officially listed as Rose Dugdale – the name of the millionaire’s daughter wanted by British police on charges of smuggling arms into Northern Ireland.

But Chief Supt James Murphy, the detective heading the hunt for the art thieves, yesterday said she had not been positively identified. Scotland Yard has been called in to help in this.

Until she appeared in court he could not even say what the charge would be. “We are investigating several crimes. The charge could be anything and we never release the names or identities of persons taken into custody until he or she is charged,” the superintendent said.

One thing is certain – no-one will get the £100,000 reward offered after the 19 paintings were grabbed by a five-strong gang – led by a woman – from the home of millionaire Sir Albert Beit 10 days ago.

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The capture of Rose Dugdale, who was charged with the paintings theft at Russborough House, caused a media stir largely on account of her wealthy British upbringing.
Vanguard leader William Craig addresses a rally with a loudspeaker outside Belfast City Hall with a crowd waving flags
Vanguard leader William Craig addresses a rally outside Belfast City Hall. Picture: Keystone/Getty Images (Keystone/Getty Images)
Vanguard Leader’s Home Bombed

A mystery explosion last night extensively damaged the Belfast home of Vanguard leader Mr William Craig MP.

His German-born wife Doris and their two schoolboy sons were watching television in a back lounge but all three escaped injury.

Mr Craig, who was on his way back to Belfast from a boating weekend in Fermanagh, was contacted along the route and told by police about the blast at the house in its own grounds in Annadale Avenue in the south end of the city. When he reached the house he strode quickly in to examine the damage.

RUC investigators reported that a bomb appeared to have been placed under a large double window at the front of the house. Early today troops and police were guarding the house and no-one was allowed in. A police spokesman said “extensive blast damage was caused by the explosion”.

William Craig, who played a large role in collapsing Stormont that month, astounded allies a year later by suggesting they agree a power-sharing coalition with the SDLP.