Real IRA (RIRA)

TERRORIST GROUP PROFILES

DUDLEY KNOX LIBRARY
Naval Postgraduate School

Real IRA (RIRA); a.k.a. True IRA

From: Patterns of Global Terrorism, 1999. United States Department of State, April 2000.

Description

Formed in February-March 1998 as clandestine armed wing of the 32-County Sovereignty Movement, a "political pressure group" dedicated to removing British forces from Northern Ireland and unifying Ireland. The 32-County Sovereignty Movement opposed Sinn Fein's adoption in September 1997 of the Mitchell principles of democracy and nonviolence and opposed the amendment in May 1998 of Articles 2 and 3 of the Irish Constitution, which lay claim to Northern Ireland. Former IRA "quartermaster general" Mickey McKevitt leads the group; Bernadette Sands-McKevitt, his common-law wife, is the vice-chair of the 32-County Sovereignty Movement.

Activities

Bombings, assassinations, and robberies. Most Real IRA activists are former IRA members; the group has inherited a wealth of experience in terrorist tactics and bombmaking. Targets include British military and police in Northern Ireland and Northern Irish Protestant communities. Claimed responsibility for the car bomb attack in Omagh, Northern Ireland on 15 August, which killed 29 and injured 220 persons. Announced a cease-fire after that bombing. Has attempted several unsuccessful bomb attacks on the UK mainland.

Strength

About 70, plus limited support from IRA hardliners dissatisfied with the current IRA cease-fire and other republican sympathizers.

Location/Area of Operation

Northern Ireland, Ireland, Great Britain.

External Aid

Suspected of receiving funds from sympathizers in the United States. Press Reports claim Real IRA leaders also have sought support from Libya.

Description
Formed in February-March 1998 as clandestine armed wing of the 32-County Sovereignty Movement, a "political pressure group" dedicated to removing British forces from Northern Ireland and unifying Ireland. The 32-County Sovereignty Movement opposed Sinn Fein's adoption in September 1997 of the Mitchell principles of democracy and nonviolence and opposed the amendment in May 1998 of Articles 2 and 3 of the Irish Constitution, which lay claim to Northern Ireland. Former IRA "quartermaster general" Mickey McKevitt leads the group; Bernadette Sands-McKevitt, his common law wife, is the vice chair of the 32-County Sovereignty Movement.

Activities
Bombings, assassinations, and robberies. Most Real IRA members are former IRA who opposed the IRA's cease-fire and bring to RIRA a wealth of experience in terrorist tactics and bombmaking. Targets include British military and police in Northern Ireland and Northern Irish Protestant communities. Has attempted several unsuccessful bomb attacks on the UK mainland. Claimed responsibility for the car-bomb attack in Omagh, Northern Ireland, on 15 August 1998 that killed 29 and injured 220 persons. RIRA has been observing a cease-fire since the bombing.

Strength
About 70, plus possible limited support from IRA hardliners dissatisfied with the current IRA cease-fire and other republican sympathizers.

Location/Area of Operation
Northern Ireland, Irish Republic, Great Britain.

External Aid
Suspected of receiving funds from sympathizers in the United States. Press reports claim Real IRA leaders also have sought to gain support from Libya and to purchase weapons in Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

Created: 07/31/99
Last Updated: 05/11/2000
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