Jennifer Guinness


Mary Jennifer Guinness, was an English-born Irish socialite and member of the Guinness family.
She married John Henry Guinness on 9 April 1959, and they had three children: Ian Richard Guinness, Gillian Sarah Guinness and Tania Caroline Guinness. She was a keen sailor and a member of Howth Yacht Club.

Kidnapping

She was kidnapped for ransom in April 1986, but rescued by the Garda Síochána from a home on Waterloo Road in south Dublin eight days later.
At trial, brothers Michael and John Cunningham were convicted, along with Anthony Kelly, after being arrested at the house on Waterloo Road. Brian McNicholl was also convicted, with the judge accepting that his role was mainly to provide a location for Guinness to be held. Kelly died in 2005 from undisclosed causes; Michael Cunningham died in 2015, aged 65, after suffering a massive heart attack at his home in Ballyfermot.

Personal life

Guinness and her family lived at Ceanchor House, Ceanchor Road, Baily, Howth, County Dublin.
Her husband died aged 52 in a mountain-walking accident in Snowdonia. Jennifer Guinness died on 23 January 2016, aged 78, following a long battle with cancer.