John Hely-Hutchinson, 7th Earl of Donoughmore

John Michael Henry Hely-Hutchinson, 7th Earl of Donoughmore (12 November 1902 – 12 August 1981), known until 1948 by his courtesy title Viscount Suirdale, was a British politician who later sat as an hereditary peer in the House of Lords.

Background Lord Donoughmore was the son of Richard Hely-Hutchinson, 6th Earl of Donoughmore. Lord Donoughmore was member of parliament (MP) for Peterborough from 1943 to 1945. In 1948 he succeeded to all his father's peerages. In the military Donoughmore gained the rank of Colonel in the service of the Royal Armoured Corps (Territorial Army). A Freemason, he was chosen Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland in 1964, a post he held until his death.

Donoughmore is perhaps most famous for being kidnapped from Knocklofty House, Clonmel, in June 1974, with his wife, Dorothy, by the IRA as a political hostage, being released after a week. Lord Donoughmore was succeeded by his son Richard, the 8th Earl, in 1981.

Marriage and issue On 27 July 1925, Lord Donoughmore married Dorothy Jean Hotham (12 August 1906 – 29 December 1995), daughter of John Beaumont Hotham and Gladys Mary Wilson. The couple had three children: Richard Hely-Hutchinson, 8th Earl of Donoughmore (born 8 August 1927; died 25 April 2025) Lady Sara ('Sally') Elena Hely-Hutchinson (born 22 August 1930; died in 2013) m. William Janson Collins of the eponymous publishing house. Hon. Mark Hely-Hutchinson (born 19 May 1934)