| Dissident Irish Republican Campaign | |||||||
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 Map ofIreland | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Dissident republican paramilitaries
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| Strength | |||||||
| PSNI: 6,985 officers[4] RUC: 13,000 constables (until 2001) | Unknown, small 250–300 Real IRA members (2012 estimate) | ||||||
Thedissident Irish republican campaign began in 1994 towards the end ofthe Troubles,[3] a 30-year political conflict inNorthern Ireland. Since theProvisional Irish Republican Army (IRA or PIRA) calledceasefires in 1994 and 1997, breakaway groups opposed to the ceasefire and to thepeace agreements (dissident Irish republicans) have continued a low-level[5][6] armed campaign against thesecurity forces in Northern Ireland. Dissident republicans have targeted thePolice Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)[N 4] and theBritish Army in gun and bomb attacks as well as withmortars androckets. They have also carried out bombings that are meant to cause disruption. However, their campaign has not been as intensive asthe Provisional IRA's and political support for dissident groups is "tending towards zero".[5]
In 2007, the government declared the end ofOperation Banner, ending the four-decade long deployment of the British Army in Northern Ireland. As a result, the PSNI has since been the main target of attacks.
To date, two British soldiers, two PSNI officers and twoPrison Service guards have been killed as part of the republican campaign. At least 50 civilians (and former combatants) have also been killed by republican paramilitaries,[citation needed] 29 of whom died in theOmagh bombing carried out by the Real IRA.
Since the1169 invasion of Ireland by Norman knights at the request of ousted King of LeinsterDermot MacMurrough,Ireland has, in part or in whole, been under English, and later British, administration.Rebellions against rule fromGreat Britain were unsuccessful until 1919–1921'sAnglo-Irish War, when the originalIrish Republican Army (IRA) succeeded in removing 26 of Ireland's 32counties from theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland as theIrish Free State. Although previously, the offer of Irish Home rule was agreed in the third Home Rule Bill, implementation was suspended by violent opposition in Ulster and the forming of the UVF, and later by the outbreak of theFirst World War. Following the partition of Ireland by the Crown, the remaining six counties, located in the province ofUlster, became Northern Ireland and remained a part of the renamedUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
A civil war followed in the new southern state, and the IRA split for the first time, into theIrish National Army—the war's victor, which became the army of the Free State—and theAnti-Treaty IRA, which was opposed to thetreaty that hadpartitioned Ireland into two states.
The IRA ceased to be a significant force following its defeat in the Civil War, and it was not until a further split, into theOfficial IRA andProvisional IRA (PIRA) following the1969 Northern Ireland riots, that a group calling itself the Irish Republican Army—the Provisional IRA—would again come to prove a significant military force. As a belligerent in what would come to be known asthe Troubles, the PIRA waged an armed campaign against the British state that lasted until 1997 and claimed around 1800 lives.
The PIRA called an indefinite ceasefire in 1997 anddecommissioned its arms in 2005 in accordance with the 1998Good Friday Agreement, but a number of hardline splinter groups, known as dissident republicans, have vowed to continue using "armed struggle" to achieve the republican aim of aunited Ireland.
Motivations for continued violence vary by group; for the more conservative Continuity IRA, the Provisionals' ending ofabstentionist politics at the 1986 General Army Convention (GAC) served as a catalyst for tension. For ONH; the acceptance by the Sinn Féin special Ard Fheis of the PSNI and the Real IRA's "criminality", whilst for the majority of Dissident Republicans and the RIRA/NIRA the cause was the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.[dubious –discuss]
In August 1994, the Provisional IRA called a ceasefire. In January 1996 theContinuity IRA announced its existence and vowed to continue the armed campaign againstBritish rule in Northern Ireland. A month later, the Provisional IRA called-off its ceasefire because of its dissatisfaction with the state of the peace negotiations. On 13 Julythe CIRA detonated acar bomb outside Kilyhelvin Hotel inEnniskillen,County Fermanagh. The blast caused serious damage and injured 17 people as they were being evacuated from the hotel.[7] Over the following year it planted another three cars bombs inBelfast,Derry and Fermanagh, but all were defused by the British Army. The Provisional IRA called a second ceasefire in July 1997. On 16 September 1997, the CIRA detonated a van bomb outside theRoyal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) base inMarkethill, causing widespread damage. The bombing happened a day afterSinn Féin joined the political negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement.[8]
In November 1997, high-ranking Provisional IRA members who opposed the ceasefire formed a breakaway group that would become known as theReal IRA. During the first half of 1998 the Real IRA and Continuity IRA launched a string of car bomb andmortar attacks on RUC bases. There were car bombings inMoira on 20 February and inPortadown on 23 February.[9] There was a mortar attack onArmagh RUC base on 10 March, and on two British Army bases in South Armagh on 24 March.[10] On 10 April, after two years of intensive negotiations, the Good Friday Agreement was signed.[9] Further mortars were launched at RUC bases in Belfast on 4 May andBelleek on 9 May, but missed their targets.[9] On 22 May,referendums on the Agreement were held in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In Northern Ireland, the vote was 71% in favour, while in the Republic the vote was 94% in favour.[9]
On 1 August, following a telephoned warning, a RIRA car bombdetonated in the centre of Banbridge, injuring two RUC officers and 33 civilians.[9]
On 15 August 1998 the RIRA left a car containing 500 lb of home-made explosives in the centre ofOmagh,County Tyrone. The bombers could not find a parking space near the intended target of the courthouse, and the car was left 400 metres away. Three inaccurate telephone warnings were issued, and the RUC believed the bomb was actually located outside the courthouse. They attempted to establish a security cordon to keep civilians clear of the area, which inadvertently pushed people closer to the actual location of the bomb. Shortly after, the bomb exploded killing 29 people and injuring 220 others, in what became the deadliest attack of the Troubles inside Northern Ireland.[9]
The bombing caused a major outcry throughout the world, and the Irish and British governments introduced new legislation in an attempt to destroy the organisation. The RIRA also came under pressure from the Provisional IRA, when Provisional IRA members visited the homes of 60 people connected with the RIRA and ordered them to disband and stop interfering with Provisional IRA arms dumps. With the organisation under intense pressure, the RIRA called a ceasefire on 8 September.[9]
Following the Omagh bombing, there was a lull in dissident republican activity; mainly due to the RIRA ceasefire and the arrests of prominent dissident republican militants.[11] The RIRA used the ceasefire to re-group and re-arm. Meanwhile, the CIRA carried out a number of minor attacks.
The Real IRA called off its ceasefire in January 2000, declaring: "Once again, Óglaigh na hÉireann declares the right of the Irish people to the ownership of Ireland. We call on all volunteers loyal to theIrish Republic to unite to uphold the Republic and establish a permanent national parliament representative of all the people". There was a surge of activity over the next two years.[11] During this time, republicans carried out a series of bomb and mortar attacks on British Army and RUC bases, including a car bomb attack onStewartstown RUC base in July 2000.[12] That November, an RUC officer lost a leg when abooby trap bomb exploded outsideCastlewellan RUC base.[13] In June 2001, the Real IRA opened fire on RUC officers at apolling station inBallinascreen, wounding two officers and a civilian. It was thought to be the first close-range gun attack on officers since 1997.[14]
The Real IRA also carried out a number of bombings in London during 2000–2001; the first republican attacks there since 1997. In June 2000, a bomb damagedHammersmith Bridge[15] and in September anRPG-22 rocket struck theSIS Building, headquarters of theSecret Intelligence Service, also known as the MI6. In February 2001 a British Army cadet lost a hand when a booby-trap bomb exploded outside the4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment's barracks in west London.[16] The following montha car bomb exploded outside theBBC Television Centre, after a telephoned warning.Another car bomb that exploded nearEaling Broadway station in August left extensive damage in the area. In November, a third car bomb partially exploded inBirmingham city centre.[17]
In November 2001, theRoyal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) became thePolice Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The reform of the RUC had been a main demand of Irish republicans and nationalists. However, Sinn Féin—the main republican party—refused to support the PSNI until the reforms were fully implemented. Dissident republicans made clear that they would never support a "British paramilitary police force" in any part of Ireland.[18]
In August 2002, a booby-trap bomb exploded at a British Army base inDerry. It killed a civilian contractor—a former British soldier—who was working at the base.[19]
On 17 August 2003, the RIRA killed Danny McGurk, a civilian, in WestBelfast. The group later issued a statement offering an apology and saying that the killing was "criminally wrong and detracted from the goal of Irish liberation".[20]
Over the following few years, dissident republican activity gradually waned. This was mainly due to internal tensions and police actions.[11] There were splits within the paramilitary groups, especiallywithin the Continuity IRA. In 2006, agroup calling itself Óglaigh na hÉireann or ONH emerged; over the following years it would become the most active republican paramilitary after the RIRA.[21]
In 2005, the mainstream IRA—having been on ceasefire since 1997—formally ended its campaign anddecommissioned its weapons. In 2007, following theSt Andrews Agreement, Sinn Féin finally voted to support the PSNI. Some of Sinn Féin's support base opposed these moves. They believed Sinn Féin had "sold out" and was moving closer to accepting the "British occupation". This led to more republicans lending their support to dissident groups.[18] Following the IRA's declaration, the British Army greatly reduced its presence in Northern Ireland and left the PSNI in charge of security.[22]
In March 2009 came the first security force fatalities since the end of the Troubles. The Real IRAshot dead two off-duty British soldiers as they collected a delivery outsideMassereene Barracks inAntrim. Two other soldiers and two civilian deliverymen were also wounded by gunfire.[23] Two days later, the Continuity IRAshot dead a PSNI officer responding to a call inCraigavon.[24] This began the most intensive period of dissident activity since the campaign started.[25] The number of attacks rose year-on-year, with 118 attacks in 2009, 239 the following year and a higher number the year after that.[26]
On 12 April 2009, the RIRA claimed responsibility for shooting dead MI5 informantDenis Donaldson on 4 April 2006, at his cottage nearGlenties,County Donegal, Republic of Ireland.[27]
2010 saw the first car bombings in Northern Ireland in a decade. The firstexploded outside the courthouse inNewry in February;[28][29] a second exploded outsidePalace Barracks (the NI headquarters ofMI5) on 12 April;[30] a third exploded outsideNewtownhamilton PSNI base on 22 April;[31] in August a fourth exploded outside Strand Road PSNI base in Derry;[32] and in October a fifth exploded outside a bank in the same area, causing widespread damage.[33] Also that year, a PSNI officer had to have his leg amputated after a booby-trap bomb exploded under his car.[34]
In April 2011, another PSNI officerwas killed when a booby-trap bomb exploded under his car in Omagh.[35]
It was announced in July 2012 thatRepublican Action Against Drugs (RAAD) and a number of other small republican groups were merging with the Real IRA. The CIRA and the group calling itself ONH were not included in the merger. Some in the media referred to the grouping as the "New IRA".[36] In November, the group shot dead aprison officer on theM1 motorway. The shots were fired from another car, which drove alongside his. He was the first prison officer to be killed since 1993.[37][38][39]
In May 2013 republican militant Christine Connor twice attempted to bombPolice Service of Northern Ireland patrols by luring them with false calls to a house onCrumlin Road,Belfast.[40][41]
Shortly after, the British Government announced that the39th summit of theG8 would be held in June 2013 at theLough Erne Resort in Fermanagh. Commentators said the British Government chose to hold it in Northern Ireland partly to "show the world that the peace process has worked and normality has returned".[42] Security sources believed republicans would try to launch an attack during the summit, which "would hijack global headlines".[43] In March 2013, acar bomb was defused near the resort. ONH said it had planned to detonate it at the hotel but had to abort the attack.[44] Ahuge security operation was mounted for the summit and it passed off without incident.
In the run-up to Christmas 2013, there was a surge in dissident republican activity. This included the first bombings in Belfast city centre in a decade. On 25 November a car bomb partially exploded outsideVictoria Square Shopping Centre and a PSNI base. A man wasforced to drive the bomb to the spot and raised the alarm.[45][46] On 13 December a small bomb exploded in aholdall outside St Anne's Square, following a telephoned warning.[47][48] Nobody was hurt in the attacks, which were claimed by ONH. Also in December, two PSNI patrols were the target of automatic gunfire in Belfast.[49]
In February 2014 the Real IRA (or 'New IRA') sent seven letter bombs to British Army recruitment offices in south-east England; the first time republican militants attacked inside Great Britain since 2001.[50][51] The following month, a PSNI land rover was hit by a horizontal mortar in Belfast. A civilian car was also hit by debris, but there were no injuries. It was the first successful attack of its kind in more than ten years.[52][53] A PSNI armoured jeep was hit by another horizontal mortar in Derry that November, blowing off a door and damaging a passing car. The Real IRA said it had fired an "EFP mortar-style device".[54] In the security operation that followed, youths attacked the PSNI with stones and petrol bombs.[55] Two weeks later, a PSNI land rover was attacked with a homemaderocket-propelled grenade launcher on Crumlin Road, Belfast. The warhead pierced the land rover's outer shell.[56]
In November 2015, a PSNI vehicle was riddled with automatic gunfire in Belfast, with dissident republicans suspected of being responsible.[57][58]
A booby-trap bomb detonated under a van driven by a prison officer, Adrian Ismay, on 4 March 2016. He died 11 days later. The New IRA claimed responsibility and said it was a response to the alleged mistreatment of republican prisoners atMaghaberry Prison.[59][60]
A group using the nameArm na Poblachta (meaning 'Army of the Republic') claimed responsibility for planting a roadside explosive device in Belfast on 1 November 2017.[61] It is also believed that Arm na Poblachta were responsible for the shooting death ofAntrim man Raymond Johnston in 2018.[62]
On 19 January 2019 there was a car bomb attack on theBishop Street Courthouse in Derry, the first such attack in several years.[63] In March, several letter bombs were found atHeathrow Airport,London City Airport andWaterloo station; the New IRA claimed responsibility.[64][65]
On 18 April 2019, rioting erupted following police raids in Derry, during which a New IRA gunman opened fire on the PSNI, killing journalistLyra McKee.[66]
On 1 June 2019, a powerfulimprovised explosive device was found planted under a PSNI officer's car at a golf club in east Belfast. In the following days, the New IRA contactedThe Irish News to claim responsibility.[67]
TheContinuity IRA was blamed for an attempted booby trap bomb attack on 26 July 2019. A call was made to a media outlet claiming a mortar had been fired at a police patrol. The PSNI went to the Tullygally road area in Craigavon to investigate the claim and discovered a fake mortar device along with a concrete block with the booby trap bomb inside of it.[68]
On 19 August 2019, a bomb exploded outside the village ofNewtownbutler in County Fermanagh allegedly targeting PSNI officers.[69]
On 5 February 2020, the PSNI founda bomb in a lorry parked in Lurgan. It is believed to have been planted by the CIRA, who intended to detonate it on Brexit day, 31 January 2020, when they thought it would be on a ferry, crossing the North Channel to Scotland.[70]
On 14 January 2021, the CIRA claimed it had fired at a PSNI helicopter at Wattlebridge, South Fermanagh. It was later confirmed by PSNI officials that there were no PSNI helicopters deployed in the area and that the helicopter in question was likely a civilian helicopter.[71][72] The attack was eventually debunked as a hoax.[73]
On 19 April 2021, a bomb was planted next to the car of a part-time female PSNI officer in Dungiven, County Londonderry, and was subsequently defused. The New IRA later claimed responsibility.[74][75][76]
On 12 March 2022, Arm na Poblachta left an unexploded bomb around the junction at Feeny Road and Killunaght Road, nearDungiven,County Londonderry. The bomb targeted a PSNI vehicle.[77][78] The night of 17 November 2022, an explosive device was thrown to a police car in the town ofStrabane and it exploded without the officers in the car getting hurt.[79] Strabane resident Teresa Breslin, whosetwin brother Charlie was a Republican militant killed by theSAS in an anti-IRA operation in the town, called the bomb attack "a bloody disgrace," calling it "something we never thought we’d go through again."[80]
On 27 February 2023, the New IRA admitted in a typed statement it carried out the attempted murder of PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, who was shot multiple times by two gunmen in front of his son and other children after a youth football session he had been coaching on 22 February 2023.[81] As of 26 February 2023 the PSNI had arrested six people in connection with the attempted murder. Rallies in County Tyrone organized under the slogan 'No Going Back', in reference to the violence ofThe Troubles, condemned the shooting.[82][83] The same month, Arm na Poblachta claimed responsibility for planting an explosive device in the Corrody Road area ofDerry, which resulted in a security alert in the area.[84]
On 4 March 2023, Arm na Poblachta issued threats against the families of PSNI officers. The threats were condemned by theSocial Democratic and Labour Partymember of the Legislative Assembly andNorthern Ireland Policing Board memberMark H. Durkan.[85] The same month,Northern Ireland SecretaryChris Heaton-Harris announced a raise in the terrorism threat level assessment from "substantial" to "severe" for Northern Ireland, a level indicating that an attack is "highly likely," which reverses a downgrade review in March 2022.[86]
On 22 May 2024, PSNI forces arrested two men in Derry and seized anAK-47 variant assault rifle.[87]
