Derry Journal June 1974 Abducted soldier returns safely to his St Johnston home
Twenty-six years old Lance Corporal Eugene Patton of the Royal Irish Rangers was back at his home in Ard Baithin, St Johnston on Tuesday morning after thirty hours in the custody of armed men who had abducted him from his home last Sunday night. L/Cpl Patton had come from his unit in Clonmany to attend the funeral of his father. He was abducted by six men and a countywide search for him was carried out by Gardai from all over Donegal, while security forces on the Six-County side were also alerted.
L/Cpl Patton told reports on Tuesday that when he was abducted he was put into a car in which there were five masked men and a hood was put over his head.
The kidnappers changed cars several times before stopping at a place of which he did not know the location.
"Last night I was being held in a house when a Garda came in and disturbed the men" he said.