Irish journalist kidnapped in Baghdad

[Spike_Kojima]

http://dynimg.rte.ie/0000620e0b2.jpg

A Dublin journalist working for a British newspaper has been kidnapped by a group of armed men in Baghdad.

The Guardian confirmed that the journalist is its Baghdad Correspondent Rory Carroll, who is 33.

He was abducted today as he left a house after watching the televised trial of Saddam Hussein with an Iraqi family.

Mr Carroll, who is from Blackrock, has been based in Iraq for the last nine months.

After graduating from Trinity College Dublin, he began his career as a reporter for the Irish News in Belfast and was named Northern Ireland Young Journalist of the Year in 1997.

He joined the Guardian as a home news reporter and in 1999 was posted to Rome to become Southern Europe Correspondent. In 2002 he was appointed South Africa Correspondent.

Mr Carroll's father has said he is confident his son will react calmly and sensibly to his kidnap. Joe Carroll, a former Irish Times correspondent and author, said his son had received specialised training for such situations.

Speaking to RTÉ News at his Dublin home this afternoon, Mr Carroll said the family knew very little of what had happened in Baghdad this morning other than the facts reported.

Mr Carroll confirmed his son carries an Irish passport. He said the family was aware of intensive diplomatic efforts to secure Rory's release.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, had told the Carrolls that his department was ready to offer any assistance required.

Link (http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1019/carrollr.html)

[sickofpretenders]

Sounds like he was hanging around with locals and no (or only local) security.

[Ruledbyjames]

I hope he will be alright. 2nd Irish citizen to be kidnapped in Iraq.

[joshfox0]

kidnapped by saddrs lot apparently. i hope for his safe reutrn sooner rather than later!

[Artie Bucco]

kidnapped by saddrs lot apparently. i hope for his safe reutrn sooner rather than later!

doesn't say that in the latest news. If he was kidnapped by the Mehdi Army he will probably be relased.

[Flukeman]

The Guardian newspaper is considered to be a bleeding heart left wing paper who are anti US, anti armed forces (including Brit forces) & pro Iraq terrorists oops sorry they call them resistance fighters. So I find it ironic that one of their reporters has been grabbed. I bet that they won't complain if a rescue is made by the military. (who they usually liken to baby killers etc)

So excuse me if I don't give a ****.

[Argyll]

9 months in country taught him little in the way of security then!!

Oh and Ken Bigley and Margaret Hasan were also Irish,and look what happened to them!!

[Ruledbyjames]

He is still a human being Flukeman. Just because you dont agree with his opinion doesnt make this right. It really pisses me off when people dont "give a ****" just because of an opinion that one dosent like. Its free press! Life would be so very boring if we all shared the same views. They grabbed him because he's a westerner. If he is going to live (God willing) its because he's Irish and a member of the Guardian (if that means s**t to the terrorists)

[sickofpretenders]

The Guardian newspaper is considered to be a bleeding heart left wing paper who are anti US, anti armed forces (including Brit forces) & pro Iraq terrorists oops sorry they call them resistance fighters. So I find it ironic that one of their reporters has been grabbed. I bet that they won't complain if a rescue is made by the military. (who they usually liken to baby killers etc)

So excuse me if I don't give a ****.

Yeah I had heard that also, but that guy specifically is not too bad. Certainly I havent read much of his work but none that I have read has been anti American or particulary left wing even. I have heard he had minimal security (local apparently), if that is indeed the case he was taking some stupid risks. All the kidnappings I have heard about are people who mistakely felt that as they harm no iraqis, no iraqis will harm them. For some crazy reason left wing ideology that works so well in trendy european cafes seems to get you killed in a warzone?!!?!? Cant think why though.

Great avatar by the way flukeman.

[Flukeman]

He is still a human being Flukeman. Just because you dont agree with his opinion doesnt make this right. It really pisses me off when people dont "give a ****" just because of an opinion that one dosent like. Its free press! Life would be so very boring if we all shared the same views. They grabbed him because he's a westerner. If he is going to live (God willing) its because he's Irish and a member of the Guardian (if that means s**t to the terrorists)

He is still a human being, if he gets out alive thats good, but I still don't give a ****.

[sickpup]

Ironic...

This is the same reporter that claimed US soldiers were out of control and killing journalists with impunity. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1567737,00.html)

I wonder if he's hoping for those 'out of control' soldiers to come to his rescue...?

[MickCollins]

Ironic...

This is the same reporter that claimed US soldiers were out of control and killing journalists with impunity. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1567737,00.html)

I wonder if he's hoping for those 'out of control' soldiers to come to his rescue...?
I bet he comes out like that BBC reporter who was captured by the Taliban. He'll be let go, declare he is now a muslim and will decry the awful Allied efforts against his noble and hospitable captors.

Or, ya know, they'll cut his head off.

[Irish Eyes]

Lets just hope he gets back safely.Irish government sending out a delegation to try get him freed.

[Spike_Kojima]

Irish journalist released in Baghdad
20 October 2005 20:51

The Irish journalist, Rory Carroll, has been released in Baghdad.

Mr O'Carroll has already been in contact with his family. His father Joe confirmed the release and said the family were over the moon at the news.

He said Rory had told him he had been held in a cell. Two men came to the cell tonight and told him he was free to go.

The 33-year-old Dubliner has been Baghdad Correspondent for the Guardian newspaper for the last nine months.

He was abducted by armed men in the Sadr City district of the Iraqi capital yesterday.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has welcomed the news of Mr Carroll's release.
Link (http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1020/carrollr.html)

[ed316]

should of known better

[ed316]

Of course those out of control soldiers would rescue him, then he will complain about how the US soldiers being rough and agressive toward's his captors.