The Woman Who Stole Vermeer: The story of republicanism’s unlikeliest footsoldier, but not in her own words

This able retelling of Rose Dugdale’s IRA-assisted theft of paintings from Russborough House in 1974 suffers from the absence of her own voice

Rose Dugdale, a millionaire’s daughter, helped the IRA by stealing paintings, including a Vermeer, from a Co Wicklow mansion in 1974. Picture: Shutterstock

BIOGRAPHY

The Woman Who Stole Vermeer: The True Story of Rose Dugdale and the Russborough House Art Heist

By Anthony M Amore

Pegasus Books, €23.99

Whatever else might be said about Rose Dugdale, nobody can deny that she has a sense of humour. Her profile image on Facebook and Twitter is the Johannes Vermeer painting Lady Writing a Letter with Her Maid. This also just happens to be one of 19 precious artworks she helped ...