In the 1970s, Herrema ran a wire factory, Ferenka, in the city of Limerick, Ireland. At the time, this was the city"s biggest employer, with approximately 1,400 workers. The kidnappers demanded the release of three Ireland Republican Army prisoners, including Rose Dugdale.
After a massive security operation, the kidnappers were eventually traced on 21 October 1975 to a house in Monasterevin, County Kildare.
After a further two-week-long siege, Herrema was released, shaken but unharmed. He left Ireland soon after.
He eventually returned to present an episode of Saturday Live. In 2005, he donated his personal papers to the University of Limerick.
On the morning of 3 October 1975 Herrema was abducted having just left his home in Castletroy near Limerick by two members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, Eddie Gallagher and Marion Coyle.