Real IRA 'no threat to peace process'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Dissident republican groups opposed to the Northern Ireland peace process are a dangerous threat, but have no support for their actions, a watchdog said today.
The Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) issued its 23rd report on paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland to the British and Irish governments and said mainstream organisations continue to follow a peaceful path.
While the body of experts warned that dissidents including the Real IRA (RIRA) are wedded to violence, the group concluded that the militants had failed to secure public support and remain at the political margins.
Dissident groups have been responsible for a string of shootings and bombings, including a recent high-profile bomb attack on MI5's Northern Ireland headquarters, but the IMC said the groups are incapable of derailing the peace process.
"In particular, the range and nature of RIRA's (Real IRA) activities in the six months under review were, by any yardstick, a very serious matter," said the IMC report.
"However it is important to point out that this is in no way a reappearance of something comparable to the PIRA (Provisional IRA) campaign.
"There are a number of ways in which RIRA's present activities differ from that campaign. For example, the political context is entirely different, with the Belfast Agreement in 1998, supported by the overwhelming majority of the people of Ireland North and South, and the community support for the developments which have flowed from it, most recently the devolution of policing and justice.
"Operationally, RIRA does not have comparable resources in terms of personnel, money, organisation and cohesion, or range of weaponry and expertise, and it has not matched the range and tempo of PIRA's activities."
The IMC added: "It has neither significant local nor international support. While the threat from RIRA is dangerously lethal, it is also politically marginal."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments