FEARS THAT LATEST CEASEFIRE MAY SPAWN SPLINTER GROUP
Fears that latest ceasefire may spawn splinter group
THE REAL IRA ceasefire leaves just one republican group still active, the small - and at present relatively ineffectual - Continuity IRA.
But amid the relief that the Real IRA has called a permanent halt there was some concern that their ceasefire could spawn yet another breakaway group.
Another fear among security personnel on both sides of the border is that any Real IRA members still opposed to the peace process will centre themselves around the Continuity IRA.
Throughout the history of militant republicanism there have always been active armed terror groups. Splits have constantly created new groups and one ceasefire after another has almost inevitably spawned the emergence of a new organisation dedicated to continuing "the war" to see Britain forced out of Ireland.
Security forces on both sides of the border will now keep a close watch on known terrorists to try and ensure the Continuity IRA does not take up the mantle.
It is believed by security sources that the Continuity IRA at present have a membership of only a score or so.
But just hours before the Real IRA called their ceasefire the Continuity IRA contacted a Dublin newspaper declaring their fight would continue.
They said "the struggle goes on" and said there would be further attacks on "British crown forces". A caller, using a recognised code word, claimed responsibility for a gun attack on an RUC Land Rover in Armagh last Friday.
The RUC, however, said it had no record of any such attack taking place.
The group has carried out small bomb attacks in Belfast and more successful attacks in Co Fermanagh where they destroyed the Killyhevlin Hotel at Enniskillen in 1996 and a nightclub in the town in January this year.
When the Northern Ireland violence broke out in 1969 there was just one republican group - the Official IRA, descendants of the organisation that had fought the British down the decades.
But by early 1970 a split in the ranks gave birth to the Provisional IRA which swiftly took on the mantle of the main republican group. The Official IRA called a ceasefire in 1972 and with the exception of occasional inter-republican feuds has been largely inactive since.
In 1975 the Irish National Liberation Army was set up, its initial strength drawn from within the old Official IRA and from members in the ranks of the Provisional IRA opposed to a shortlived ceasefire that year.
The group quickly gained a reputation for ruthlessness. It carried out the murder of Conservative shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Airey Neave with a booby trap bomb in the House of Commons car park in 1979 and the 1982 Droppin' Well pub bombing in Ballykelly, Co Londonderry, in which 17 died, 11 off-duty soldiers and six local people.
Many years of internal feuding and power struggles resulted in numerous deaths and left the group largely inactive.
Last December it was INLA men in the Maze Prison who shot dead LVF leader Billy Wright sparking weeks of bitter sectarian killing that nearly brought the peace process to its knees. They finally called a ceasefire last month.
The Provisional IRA ceasefire of 1994 led to the emergence of the Continuity IRA. It was set up as the reputed military wing of the splinter political group Republican Sinn Fein, which broke away from the mainstream movement in 1986.
They were opposed to Gerry Adams' decision to lead Sinn Fein in the more political direction that eventually led to the ceasefire and the current peace process.
The Provisional IRA's latest ceasefire, called in July last year, led within months to the emergence of the Real IRA.
Four months after the ceasefire, and with Gerry Adams inside the peace talks process, a group of hardliners walked out of the IRA to continue the armed struggle. They included the IRA's quartermaster with access to weapons and explosives and a number of skilled bomb-makers.
Before carrying out the Omagh bombing, the worst single atrocity in the bloody history of Northern Ireland violence, they were involved in a series of attacks along the border.
Markethill, Portadown and Newtownhamilton in Co Armagh, as well as neighbouring Moira and Banbridge in Co Down, were all devastated in a wave of bombings this year, although miraculously no-one was killed until Omagh.
Breaking away: IRA splinter groups
1969: Only one republican group, the Official IRA, descendants of the organisation that had fought the British for decades
Early 1970: A split in the ranks led to the creation of the Provisional IRA
1972: Official IRA calls a ceasefire - largely inactive since
1975: Irish National Liberation Army set up drawing members from the old Official IRA and Provisional IRA members opposed to a short-lived ceasefire
1994: Provisional IRA ceasefire leads to emergence of the Continuity IRA set up as the reputed military wing of Republican Sinn Fein
July 1997: Alter Provisional IRA's latest ceasefire a group of hardliners walk out of the IRA and form the Real IRA
Real IRA's ceasefire leaves Continuity IRA the only republican group still alive
THE REAL IRA ceasefire leaves just one republican group still active, the small - and at present relatively ineffectual - Continuity IRA.
But amid the relief that the Real IRA has called a permanent halt there was some concern that their ceasefire could spawn yet another breakaway group.
Another fear among security personnel on both sides of the border is that any Real IRA members still opposed to the peace process will centre themselves around the Continuity IRA.
Throughout the history of militant republicanism there have always been active armed terror groups. Splits have constantly created new groups and one ceasefire after another has almost inevitably spawned the emergence of a new organisation dedicated to continuing "the war" to see Britain forced out of Ireland.
Security forces on both sides of the border will now keep a close watch on known terrorists to try and ensure the Continuity IRA does not take up the mantle.
It is believed by security sources that the Continuity IRA at present have a membership of only a score or so.
But just hours before the Real IRA called their ceasefire the Continuity IRA contacted a Dublin newspaper declaring their fight would continue.
They said "the struggle goes on" and said there would be further attacks on "British crown forces". A caller, using a recognised code word, claimed responsibility for a gun attack on an RUC Land Rover in Armagh last Friday.
The RUC, however, said it had no record of any such attack taking place.
The group has carried out small bomb attacks in Belfast and more successful attacks in Co Fermanagh where they destroyed the Killyhevlin Hotel at Enniskillen in 1996 and a nightclub in the town in January this year.
When the Northern Ireland violence broke out in 1969 there was just one republican group - the Official IRA, descendants of the organisation that had fought the British down the decades.
But by early 1970 a split in the ranks gave birth to the Provisional IRA which swiftly took on the mantle of the main republican group. The Official IRA called a ceasefire in 1972 and with the exception of occasional inter-republican feuds has been largely inactive since.
In 1975 the Irish National Liberation Army was set up, its initial strength drawn from within the old Official IRA and from members in the ranks of the Provisional IRA opposed to a shortlived ceasefire that year.
The group quickly gained a reputation for ruthlessness. It carried out the murder of Conservative shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Airey Neave with a booby trap bomb in the House of Commons car park in 1979 and the 1982 Droppin' Well pub bombing in Ballykelly, Co Londonderry, in which 17 died, 11 off-duty soldiers and six local people.
Many years of internal feuding and power struggles resulted in numerous deaths and left the group largely inactive.
Last December it was INLA men in the Maze Prison who shot dead LVF leader Billy Wright sparking weeks of bitter sectarian killing that nearly brought the peace process to its knees. They finally called a ceasefire last month.
The Provisional IRA ceasefire of 1994 led to the emergence of the Continuity IRA. It was set up as the reputed military wing of the splinter political group Republican Sinn Fein, which broke away from the mainstream movement in 1986.
They were opposed to Gerry Adams' decision to lead Sinn Fein in the more political direction that eventually led to the ceasefire and the current peace process.
The Provisional IRA's latest ceasefire, called in July last year, led within months to the emergence of the Real IRA.
Four months after the ceasefire, and with Gerry Adams inside the peace talks process, a group of hardliners walked out of the IRA to continue the armed struggle. They included the IRA's quartermaster with access to weapons and explosives and a number of skilled bomb-makers.
Before carrying out the Omagh bombing, the worst single atrocity in the bloody history of Northern Ireland violence, they were involved in a series of attacks along the border.
Markethill, Portadown and Newtownhamilton in Co Armagh, as well as neighbouring Moira and Banbridge in Co Down, were all devastated in a wave of bombings this year, although miraculously no-one was killed until Omagh.
Breaking away: IRA splinter groups
1969: Only one republican group, the Official IRA, descendants of the organisation that had fought the British for decades
Early 1970: A split in the ranks led to the creation of the Provisional IRA
1972: Official IRA calls a ceasefire - largely inactive since
1975: Irish National Liberation Army set up drawing members from the old Official IRA and Provisional IRA members opposed to a short-lived ceasefire
1994: Provisional IRA ceasefire leads to emergence of the Continuity IRA set up as the reputed military wing of Republican Sinn Fein
July 1997: Alter Provisional IRA's latest ceasefire a group of hardliners walk out of the IRA and form the Real IRA
Real IRA's ceasefire leaves Continuity IRA the only republican group still alive
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/290
Published Date: 09-Sep-98
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