The Official IRA called a ceasefire in May 1972 after admitting it had shot dead a soldier in Derry. In 1992, the governments in Dublin and Belfast claimed that the Official IRA was still an active organisation.
Provisional IRA: The Provisional IRA emerged in 1969, and is a terrorist group which has two main goals. The first is the withdrawal of all British from Ireland, and the second is the unification of Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland.
The Provisional IRA campaigned against the British military being in Northern Ireland, against the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Unionists and occasionally the police and army in the Republic of Ireland.
The Provisional IRA has been on a ceasefire since 1997, but in January 2005 they murdered a man in Belfast.
Its activities include bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, punishment beatings and robberies. It has targeted the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the British army, Unionists, loyalist militants and occasionally the police and army in the Republic of Ireland.
Continuity IRA: The Continuity IRA came into being in 1986, following a split from the Provisional IRA. It has pledged its “unremitting hostility to the British forces of occupation in Ireland, and to continue to use armed violence “to achieve Irish freedom”. Its political ally is Republican Sinn Fein.
In July 1998, the Secretary of State Mo Mowlam declared that Continuity IRA prisoners would not be eligible for early release, as stated in the Good Friday Agreement. As of this, the Continuity IRA opposes the Agreement.
In July 2004, the United States government declared the Continuity IRA a terrorist organization. Its crimes have included bombings, assassinations, kidnappings and robberies. It has also targeted British military personnel and loyalist paramilitary groups.
Real IRA: The Real IRA is a dissident republican splinter group, formed by former members of the Provisional IRA. It is responsible for the Omagh bomb in August 1998, where 29 people were killed.
In 1998, the Real IRA called a ceasefire but was broken less than two years later. It international publicity when it bombed the BBC headquarters in London, and when it fired an RPG at MI6 headquarters, also in London.
It was named by the USA as a terrorist organisation in 2001, and its financial assets were frozen.
Irish National Liberation Army: The INLA was formed in December 1974 as the military wing of the Irish Republican Socialist Party. Its aim war the reunification of Ireland and the creation of a socialist republic. Its main members were ex-Official IRA and ex-Provisional IRA members. The INLA is considered to be the most ruthless republican paramilitary organisation as Provisional IRA members talk of the INLA as wild men.
The INLA has been involved in the drugs trade and armed robberies, and therefore has very little support. It has also been caught smuggling weapons.
In December 1997, an INLA prisoner shot dead LVF leader Billy Wright. It is believed that the INLA have killed over 150 people. In August 1998, they announced a ceasefire.
Ulster Defence Association: The UDA was launched in 1971, and a year later had a membership of over 40,000. It has used the title of the UFF, the Ulster Freedom Fighters, as a cover name for killing Catholics, and has been responsible for 408 deaths. Its supporters believe that it is defending the unionist community from Irish nationalism.
The group has been involved in guerrilla warfare against Republican paramilitaries. It has been involved in the Northern Ireland drugs trade and other criminal activities.
In February 2003, the UDA called a ceasefire for one year.
Ulster Young Militants: The UYM is the youth organisation of the UDA, and was founded in 1974. It has links to weaponry such as pipe bombs.
Ulster Volunteer Force: The UVF was originally established in 1912 by Sir Edward Carson, to fight against the prospect of Home Rule. The current incarnation of the UVF was formed in 1966, to oppose civil rights for Catholics. Its other main goal is the execution of known members of the IRA “without mercy or hesitation”.
In 1969, they bombed water and electrical stations in order to make the Prime Minister, Terence O’Neil, resign.
Between 1966 and 1999, the UVF, under cover name of the Red Hand Commandos, killed 547 people, with many of them being killed in high profile attacks.
The UVF called a ceasefire in 1994, but from 1996 has been involved in a violent feud with the LVF, and from 2000, the UDA.
Loyalist Volunteer Force: The LVF was formed in 1996 when the UVF expelled Billy Wright. He was later charged with menacing behaviour and was sentenced to 8 years in the Maze prison. He then demanded a separate wing for LVF prisoners. The authorities agreed and the wing became a gathering point for all Loyalist paramilitaries. Billy Wright was murdered in December 1997 by members of the INLA, who were housed in an adjacent wing. The LVF then launched itself onto Johnny Adair’s UFF.
Red Hand Defenders: The Red Hand Defenders were formed in 1998. Its members are loyalist extremists that oppose the UDA ceasefire. The organisation is made up of members of the UDA and the LVF, but both groups claim that they are nothing to do with them.
Orange Volunteers: The Orange Volunteers are a breakaway Loyalist paramilitary group who first emerged during the 1998 Drumcree crisis. It is made up of militants who disapproved of the Good Friday Agreement. They attack civilians, and are known experienced bomb makers. The group declared a ceasefire in 2000.
