If decommissioning is an obstacle to peace, then why doesn't the IRA decommission its arms?

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Patrick Brosnan

GCSE History Coursework

Question 2.                If decommissioning is an obstacle to peace, then why doesn’t the IRA decommission its arms?

        The IRA is the Irish Republican Army. They want a united Ireland and are prepared to use violence to try and gain this. The IRA feels they have a responsibility towards protecting their community (the Catholics). If they gave up their weapons they would be unable to do this. However there are many “splinter” groups from the IRA e.g. the Real IRA. They all see things differently. Some would settle for peace but others don’t want it.

        Decommissioning by the IRA would require a great deal of trust towards the British Government and the Unionists. The simply do not have any for either because of the years of violence and hatred. The IRA see it as if they decommission they would become very weak giving the opposition a great chance to attack or exploit them. They are not willing to take that risk.                    

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        The IRA have no trust for the other side because the Roman Catholic’s have always been treated as second class citizens, for example, The Ulster police force was made up of Protestants and would discriminate against the Catholics. There have been a number of major incidents in the past that also makes this trust difficult.

        One of these is Bloody Sunday. Thirteen innocent people were shot dead.  The British Army opened fire on unarmed and peaceful civilian demonstrators. Another example is the Hunger Strikes. Ten people died due to this hunger strike. Margaret Thatcher and the British Government abolished ...

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