Overview
The Provisional IRA became a heavily armed paramilitary terrorist organization, which was the armed resistance to British rule in Northern Ireland. It evolved from years of sectarian violence. The Provisional IRA emerged in 1969 as the armed wing of the Free Ireland Movement. Splitting from the Old IRA, which was a more political and legitimate military group, the Provisional IRA focused on making the conflict against Britain increasingly bloody and violent in order to combat Britain’s occupation of Northern. This 30 year armed campaign claimed the lives of about 1700 people. Provisional Ireland waged a bloody insurgency, which focused on the use of guerilla hit and run tactics, bombings and kidnapping. They’re most famous for their use of high profile and high intensity bombings, which focused on civilian and military targets alike. This paper will look at the motivation, worldwide support in particular from Libya, major historical turning points and the modern status of the IRA.
Motivation
The IRA’s declared goal was the end of British rule in Northern Ireland and the reunification of Northern Ireland with the rest of Ireland (Ultius 2018). The two sides in the conflict were the Unionists or Protestant majority, which wished to remain part of the UK, and were supported by the British government. The other was the Nationalists who were exclusively Catholic but was the minority in the region who wanted to leave the United Kingdom and be part of Ireland. The Provisional IRA fell into this second group. Although religious lines separated the groups, this was not a religious conflict but rather a territorial one. Also, National identity and national belonging separated the groups. The Provisional IRA separated from the Old IRA in 1969, however, the Old IRA had a much less militaristic approach, due to a difference in tactics on how to achieve their goal. Many of the Old IRA members followed to the Provisional IRA (PIRA), however the Provisional IRA was focused on recruiting young, energetic members who had the skills and drive to conduct an insurgent campaign.
Support from Other Nations
The PIRA, although denounced as a terrorist organization from people around the world, did receive external assistance in the form of monetary and weapon support. Support came from multiple sources including Irish Americans. Most of the shipments were funneled through the Irish Mafia. Support came from other terrorist groups such as the PLO, who provided training, funds, arms, as well as other terrorist material. From around the world, Irish immigrants supported their cause financially and emotionally. In many instances, people would contribute to organizations devoted to Irish independence but the funds would ultimately be funneled to support the PIRA and their activities. They also funded their operations through arms trafficking to groups like FARC in Columbia in later years. The biggest financial and equipment support came from Libya under Muammar Gaddafi who supported the IRA with millions of dollars, as well as with significant amounts of arms shipments.
The Gaddafi Link
The major external supporter of the IRA was Muammar Gaddafi, through his support, the PIRA was able to transform itself from a minor terrorist organization to a major force that could take on terrorist acts against the British Government and engage in direct military confrontation with the British Army. The key difference in his support was the amount of weapons, but just as important was the support from a legitimate country, which elevated the PIRA’s stature internationally.
Five major shipments of arms were sent from Gaddafi, in addition to smaller shipments provided by couriers. The arms shipments started off in the early 1970s timeframe, first by plane, which provided RPGs, AK-47s and ammunition. Through insiders and their support they were able to land some planes with these shipments at the Shannon International Airport. The majority of shipments came by shipment through Malta, where Gaddafi had control. These shipments started as 7 tons of small arms and Semtex explosive material. And then escalated to the largest known shipment of 105 tons of small arms, heavy machine guns SAM7 anti-air rockets and multiple tons of Semtex. Five massive shipments of arms were known to come from Gaddafi, with a suspected larger number surmised. Gaddafi’s shipments allowed for the IRA to expand operations, where before they only had World War II era weapons, they were now equipped with some of the most advanced military technology that allowed them to create further tactics such as car bombing, advanced ambushes, the targeting of helicopters and attacks on military and police bases. One of the last shipments known to be provided by Gaddafi was intercepted by British security forces and brought to attention the amount and severity of arms provided to the IRA. This 132-ton shipment included 2 tons of Semtex, 2000 detonators, 1000 AK-47s, 120 RPGs, 20 anti-air missiles, 10 DSK heavy machine guns, 600 grenades, 1000 mortars and 1 million rounds of ammunition. It was at this point, the conflicts became known as “The Troubles”, as the British government realized the severity and scale of weapons and that the IRA was equipped to wage a prolonged and sustained conflict. Gaddafi also provided financial and political support. In a single three-year period, he provided 3.5M pounds and made multiple statements on the international stage of support for the IRA. Gaddafi’s motivation to support the IRA was as an anti-imperialist, and critic of British government policy. (Farren 2016) He supported many insurgent groups around the world, but none as publicly as the PIRA.
Historical Timeline of PIRA Activity
8/12/69 – Major rioting breaks out in Ireland marking the beginning of “The Troubles” which moves the conflict from a civil rights issue to a national identity issue separated by sectarian lines (Protestant vs. Catholics). A few days after this date, the British Army arrives in Northern Ireland to maintain order. December 1969 – PIRA announces split from The Old IRA and the emergence of political violence intensifies. 1970 – Violence escalates as British institute internment and other policies that anger the Northern Irish population. 1/30/72 – “Bloody Sunday”, British soldiers shot 13 Roman Catholics who they claim were part of the IRA. March 1972 – Northern Ireland political control is abolished and direct rule by the British is established in Northern Ireland. July 21, 1972 – Ireland sets off 26 bombs in Belfast, killing 9 and injuring 130. Conflict intensifies as attacks and ambushes against police and military targets increase. 1974-1975 – Cease fire and begin of negotiations, however negotiations quickly break down and violence continues. 8/27/79 – Lord Mountbatten, Uncle to Queen Elizabeth, and three others are blown up on their boat. October 1980 – Hunger strikes by Northern Irish prisoners who want to be known as political rather than criminal inmates. 10/12/1984 – Brighton Bombing was the targeting of key leadership including Margret Thatcher which is one of the most publicized and significant bombings 11/1/87 – Large 130 ton shipment of arms from Libya is discovered by the British, 1/11/88 – Political arm of the PIRA, Sin Fein, begins discussion with the British on an all Irish settlement, 4/24/93 – PIRA detonates a one ton fertilizer and Semtex bomb at Nat West Tower in London, 1 killed and 30 injured and damages amount to $1B, 10/23/93 – Another bomb kills 10 and 57 injured, 2/1996 – Canary Warf bombing, a massive bomb detonated killing 2 and injuring over 100. It is at this point that the British and Irish government along with Sin Fein, the political arm of the IRA, make bigger moves to negotiate a peace, 9/15/97 – Formal negotiations begin. Killings slow as the peace talks continue. Some targeted killings continue. Killings occur on both sides but at a much reduced rate, 4/10/98 – After months of peace talks, Good Friday Agreement is announced where all sides made concessions in order to stop the chain of violence, 5/23/98 – Good Friday Agreement signed, 12/98 – First steps in decommissioning weapons held by PIRA (PBS 2018).
Brighton Bombing
The Brighton Bombing was an attempt to assassinate Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet who were meeting in a Brighton hotel. A 30-pound explosive device was smuggled in to the Grand Hotel in Brighton before the Conservative Party Conference. This was one of the most intense attacks, targeting the highest levels of government and it brought many in the British government to revaluate negotiating with the PIRA in hopes of stopping the violence. On the 12th of October 1984 the bomb exploded in room 629 just a short ways from Margaret Thatcher’s room a long delay timer allowed for the bomber to have place the explosive weeks before. Even though Thatcher showed amazing resolve not to bend to terrorist actions and carry on as though this was not a significant action, many in her government were alerted to power of the PIRA and swayed to consider negotiating behind her back. The bomb used was made of the Semtex given to the PIRA by Libya and Gaddafi. It was a highly elaborate bomb and one of a new wave of highly advanced bombs that followed which were built in the IRA infamous bomb factories. The Prime Minister was unharmed but five people were killed in the attack and many more injured. A police investigation led to the capture of Patrick Magee a well-known member of the IRA and the man responsible for the Brighton Bomb (Ultius 2018).
Tactics
The IRA uses guerilla type tactics in conjunction with terrorist attacks, which involves bombings as their main offense. High-level operatives who were skilled in either bomb manufacturing or in infiltrations often carried out Bombings. Bomb makers in the IRA received initial training from operative in the PLO as well as other organizations. That was brought back to Ireland not only to construct bombs but to train the younger members in how to create effective explosives. Many of the IRA bombs were comprised of military grade explosives such as semtex, which was provided by Libya, and others were comprised of homemade explosives and fertilizer bombs. As the years of violence have continued bombs have continued to get more and more sophisticated; including long-range detonators and timers. The IRA was not known to use suicide bombing but would rather put in place explosives in packages and in vehicles for detonation. Another IRA bombing tactic was to use trip wire car bombs to target specific individuals. These explosives would be wired to ignitions in these devices for when an individual would enter and turn on that vehicle. The skills of bomb making have been passed on through the years to newer generations of operatives.
When engaging in direct fire the IRA would utilize weapons such as AK-47 RPG-7 and other small arms. In some engagements they would also be provided with mortar cover from either homemade or military grade mortars. They would attack targets such as police and military vehicles, ambushing them with relief from far away. By the time reinforcements would have arrived the operant would have already fled. They also attacked targets such as stations, bases and other fixed targets in the early years to secure weapons but later on to inflict high levels of causalities. In rare instances the IRA would target more substantial targets in direct attacks such as helicopters, utilizing rockets. However the most common form of attacks were small groups of IRA members conducting ambushes and raids on smaller targets, although bigger targets like The Bombing at Canary Warf were more publicized. These type of guerilla hit and run tactics were much more common and were seen through daily occurrences. After fighters had conducted operations they would hide by the local populous blending in with people on the streets. Weapons were hid and then it became very difficult to identify these individuals. Many of these same tactics can be seen in use by al-Qaida and other extremist groups around the world today.
The IRA Now
The PIRA has officially disbanded and surrendered its weapons under the Good Friday Agreement. An official end of hostilities was declared in July 1999 (PBS 2018). Weapons inspectors have now declared that they believe that the IRA storage of large volumes of weapons have been depleted or surrendered. The IRA has turned from a military group to a more political organization with arms in legitimate Irish government. However, in recent years there has been a resurgence of hostilities with different splinter groups emerging such as; the true IRA, new IRA, and others. These groups are more like criminal organizations than they are terrorist groups. Although declaring to be continuing the work of being united to Ireland they most commonly are engaged in arms trafficking and other street crimes. Bombings are extremely infrequent rather there are more targeted attacks on law enforcement than security forces. The IRA is not what it once was however it does have the possibility of resurging.