Fogarty's abduction, the fifth kidnapping by militant gangs in the last two weeks in the notorious oil-rich Delta region of southern Nigeria, highlighted the risks an increasing number of Irish people are exposed to when they work in wartorn countries. It also raised questions about the level of security they are given by their employers.

RTE, one of a handful of Irish companies with workers in dangerous zones . . . Richard Crowley and Philip Boucher Hayes recently reported on the Israel-Hezbollah conflict . . . takes extensive steps to ensure that its journalists are not at risk.

In addition, it provides personal insurance cover for all staff sent to report on stories where their personal safety is an issue.

RTE stresses that all staff sent into potentially dangerous situations are volunteers and those that agree to go are required to undertake hostile environment training before leaving the country.

"These courses include first aid, ballistics and mine awareness, trip planning, building and vehicle security, convoy driving, map reading and a range of other issues, " said a spokeswoman.

"All staff heading to war zones are equipped with flak jackets and helmets, which RTE also supply to local fixers/drivers. Nuclear, biological and chemical suits are available if required, " she said.

Two years ago the station offered a professional counselling service to journalists coming back from the war in Iraq. These counsellors had been recommended to RTE by the Irish army which had used them for their soldiers returning from conflicts.

"There is now a formal confidential counselling service available to newsroom staff following such experiences as combat zones, scenes of terrorist attacks and the aftermath of traffic accidents, " according to RTE.

Buy local Many companies employ professional bodyguards to look after their workers, but these can often be more trouble than they are worth. In fact, David Horgan, managing director of the Irish-based Petrel Resources, a company with extensive oil interests in the Middle East and Africa, believes that when it comes to employing bodyguards, businesses are much better going local.

"There are a lot of US and British professional bodyguard outfits operating in the Middle East but they carry a lot of political baggage and are not liked locally. In our experience, you end up buying trouble instead of protection, " said Horgan.

"Though they may not be as professional, you are much better off approaching the local militia leader, getting to know him, telling him you are operating in the area and then hiring his men, " he told the Sunday Tribune.

They are also vastly cheaper than the professionals, who charge around $1,500 per man per day, he said. Horgan cited a recent situation in Iraq where a US developer coming to Baghdad to oversee the building of hospitals and schools was collected and returned to the airport by two armoured cars at a cost of $35,000.

"If you gave a local $1,000 a month he would be your friend for life, " said Horgan, who admitted that you also have to do some favours such as bringing back medicines, which are difficult for Iraqis to obtain.

He also said that Petrel is not shy of playing the Irish card. "Ireland has a good reputation in the Middle East, particularly in Iran, and that gives Irish workers a considerable edge over US and UK companies."

Horgan also advises that, for their own safety, workers shouldn't question things, no matter how odd they may appear.

"Don't stand out, and agree with everything, " said Horgan, who believes that US companies in particular tend to attract too much bad attention to themselves and cannot blend in.

But there are limits. A few weeks ago while in Iran negotiating the development of a goldmine, a few Sheiks reacted with delight when he said he was Irish.

"They spoke in glowing terms of the great prophet Irish leader. Later I realised that they were talking about Gerry Adams, " he said. But in keeping with his approach, Horgan said nothing.

While Petrel staff have had a few scares, none have been killed or injured in the Middle East, which Horgan insists is a good place to do business.

Africa is different.

"Africa gives corruption a bad name and Nigeria gives Africa a bad name, " he said, although he acknowledged that Petrel has always operated trouble-free in Botswana.

Cut a deal In kidnap situations, Horgan says the individual is better off trying to cut a deal with the kidnappers than relying on any insurance negotiator who will only be looking after the bottom line.

A colleague who was kidnapped in Colombia by Marxist Guerrillas and was about to be shot managed to get out by promising four helicopters of medical supplies.

These were later supplied by his company at a cost of around $25,000 . . . a cheap price to pay for his life, said Horgan.

RTE is currently formulating a policy to deal with "an incident, such as a kidnapping", a spokeswoman said. But in keeping with general practice this policy is unlikely to publicly state that a ransom will be paid as this would simply mark the target for would-be kidnappers.

Last week the police in Nigeria were highly critical of cash-rich oil companies handing over ransoms to free workers and said this had sparked the recent surge in kidnappings in the area.

The Irish charity Goal has 16 aid workers just 150km away from Muttur in Sri Lanka, where 17 aid workers were shot dead two weeks ago.

John O'Shea, CEO and founder of Goal, said the charity has a dedicated global security adviser who is in constant contact with the field to give support and advice.

"Goal appoints a person to manage security for each country and we have experienced full-time security officers in the most dangerous locations, " said O'Shea.

The charity also trains all its volunteers on safety and security and invests in communication equipment so everyone in the field can be contacted at any time, he added.

A spokesman for ESB International, which has over 30 years' experience designing and building power stations abroad, said it has no staff employed in any flashpoint locations.

"ESB closely monitors the international situation and if anything happens we would simply withdraw our staff, " said the spokesman.

But David Horgan does not favour this approach. He says that while you have to be sensible, Irish people are too risk-adverse.

"There is nothing like going into work in a war zone. You really taste your food and breathe the air, " says Horgan, who will return to Iraq shortly.

THE DOS AND DON'TS OF WORKING IN WAR ZONES

1.DON'T hang around airports.

2.DO travel with others, in convoys if possible.

3. DON'T hire ostentatious bodyguards. A minder with an Uzi sub-machine gun is a sure sign you are worth kidnapping.

4.DO make a point of saying you are from Ireland which, generally speaking, has a good reputation in the Middle East and Africa.

5. DON'T stand out as an 'ex-pat' by wearing football jerseys and getting drunk in public.

6.DO blend in as much as possible and try to find out which militia leader is really running the area.

7.DON'T stay in hotels which are clearly foreign-national hotels as these are obvious targets.

8.DO carry a mobile phone at all times and arrange to have head office contact you at set times during the day.

9. DON'T break any of the local laws or customs no matter how perverse you think they may be.

10. DO get medical and life assurance but, if you are unlucky enough to be lifted, try to cut a deal with the kidnappers yourself.