Dissident Irish republican campaign facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dissident Irish Republican Campaign |
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 Map of Ireland |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
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Dissident republican paramilitaries
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| PSNI: 6,985 officers RUC: 13,000 constables (until 2001) |
Unknown, small 250–300 Real IRA members (2012 estimate) |
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The dissident Irish republican campaign is an ongoing conflict in Northern Ireland. It started after a long conflict called the Troubles ended in 1997. Some groups did not agree with the peace deals. These groups are called "dissident Irish republicans". They have continued to use violence against the police and army.
The main groups involved are the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA. They have attacked the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the British Army. These attacks include gun and bomb attacks. They also use other weapons like rockets.
Sometimes, they have set off bombs to cause disruption. However, their campaign is not as big as the earlier Provisional IRA's. Most people do not support these groups.
In 2007, the British Army ended its long stay in Northern Ireland. Since then, the PSNI has been the main target of attacks. So far, six security officers have been killed. Also, at least 50 civilians have died due to these groups. Twenty-nine of these people died in the Omagh bombing in 1998. This attack was carried out by the Real IRA.
Contents
Understanding the Conflict's Roots
Since 1169, Ireland has been under English or British control. Many rebellions happened over the years. In 1919–1921, the Irish War of Independence led to a big change. Most of Ireland became the Irish Free State, a new country.
But six northern counties stayed part of the United Kingdom. This area became Northern Ireland. This split caused a civil war in the new southern state. The original IRA split into two groups. One became the army of the Free State. The other, the Anti-Treaty IRA, opposed the split.
Later, the IRA split again in 1969. This led to the Provisional IRA (PIRA). The PIRA fought against the British in the Troubles. This conflict lasted until 1997 and caused about 1800 deaths.
The PIRA stopped fighting in 1997. They gave up their weapons in 2005. This was part of the Good Friday Agreement, a peace deal from 1998. But some groups, called dissident republicans, wanted to keep fighting. They wanted a united Ireland.
These groups have different reasons for continuing the violence. Some disagreed with political changes made by Sinn Féin. Others opposed the Good Friday Agreement itself.
Timeline of the Campaign
How the Campaign Started
In 1994, the Provisional IRA stopped fighting. In 1996, the Continuity IRA (CIRA) announced it would continue the fight. A month later, the Provisional IRA started fighting again briefly.
On July 13, 1996, the CIRA set off a car bomb in Enniskillen. It damaged a hotel and injured 17 people. Over the next year, they planted more car bombs, but these were stopped. The Provisional IRA stopped fighting again in July 1997.
In September 1997, the CIRA bombed a police base in Markethill. This happened a day after Sinn Féin joined peace talks.
In November 1997, some Provisional IRA members who opposed the ceasefire formed the Real IRA (RIRA). In early 1998, both the RIRA and CIRA launched many bomb and mortar attacks. These targeted police bases.
On April 10, 1998, the Good Friday Agreement was signed. This was a big peace deal. Later, more attacks happened, but some bombs missed their targets. On May 22, people in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland voted for the Agreement. Most people voted yes.
On August 1, 1998, a RIRA car bomb exploded in Banbridge. It injured two police officers and 33 civilians.
The Omagh Bombing
On August 15, 1998, the RIRA left a large car bomb in Omagh. The bombers gave wrong warnings about where the bomb was. Police accidentally directed people closer to the actual bomb site. The bomb exploded, killing 29 people and injuring 220. This was the deadliest attack in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
The bombing caused shock worldwide. The Irish and British governments passed new laws to stop the RIRA. The Provisional IRA also put pressure on the RIRA to stop. The RIRA announced a ceasefire on September 8.
After the Omagh bombing, there was less activity from these groups. This was because of the RIRA ceasefire and arrests. The RIRA used this time to reorganize. The CIRA carried out some smaller attacks.
Years 2000 to 2008
The Real IRA ended its ceasefire in January 2000. They said they would continue to fight for a united Ireland. There were many attacks over the next two years. They bombed and mortared British Army and police bases. In July 2000, a car bomb hit a police base in Stewartstown. In November, a police officer lost a leg from a hidden bomb.
The Real IRA also bombed London in 2000–2001. In June 2000, a bomb damaged Hammersmith Bridge. In September, a rocket hit the MI6 spy agency building. In February 2001, a British Army cadet lost a hand from a hidden bomb. In March, a car bomb exploded near the BBC Television Centre. Another car bomb in Ealing caused much damage in August.
In November 2001, the police force in Northern Ireland changed its name. The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) became the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). This change was a key demand from Irish republicans. However, dissident groups said they would never support a "British police force."
In August 2002, a hidden bomb killed a civilian worker at a British Army base in Derry. In August 2003, the RIRA killed a civilian named Danny McGurk. The group later apologized, saying it was a mistake.
Over the next few years, dissident activity slowed down. This was due to internal problems and police actions. There were splits within groups like the Continuity IRA. In 2006, a new group called Óglaigh na hÉireann (ONH) appeared. It became very active after the RIRA.
In 2005, the main IRA formally ended its campaign. In 2007, Sinn Féin voted to support the PSNI. Some republicans felt Sinn Féin had "sold out." This led more people to support dissident groups. The British Army also reduced its presence in Northern Ireland.
From 2009 Onward
In March 2009, two British soldiers were shot dead by the Real IRA. This happened outside Massereene Barracks in Antrim. Two days later, the Continuity IRA shot dead a PSNI officer in Craigavon. This started a very active period for dissident groups. Attacks increased each year.
In April 2009, the RIRA claimed they killed a person who gave information to authorities in 2006.
In 2010, car bombings returned to Northern Ireland. Bombs exploded near courthouses and police bases. A PSNI officer lost his leg from a hidden bomb under his car. In April 2011, another PSNI officer was killed by a hidden bomb in Omagh.
In July 2012, several small republican groups joined the Real IRA. This new group was sometimes called the "New IRA." In November, they shot dead a prison officer on the M1 motorway. He was the first prison officer killed since 1993.
In May 2013, a republican militant tried to bomb PSNI patrols twice. She used fake calls to lure them.
The British Government decided to hold the G8 summit in Fermanagh in June 2013. This was partly to show the world that peace had returned. Security forces believed republicans would try to attack during the summit. In March 2013, a car bomb was stopped near the resort. A huge security operation kept the summit safe.
In late 2013, dissident activity increased. There were bombings in Belfast city centre. A car bomb partly exploded near a shopping centre. Another small bomb exploded in a bag. No one was hurt in these attacks. ONH claimed responsibility.
In February 2014, the Real IRA (New IRA) sent letter bombs to army offices in England. This was the first attack in Great Britain since 2001. In March, a police vehicle was hit by a mortar in Belfast. In November, another police vehicle was hit in Derry. The Real IRA said they used a special mortar.
In November 2015, a PSNI vehicle was shot at in Belfast. Dissident republicans were suspected.
A hidden bomb killed prison officer Adrian Ismay in March 2016. The New IRA claimed responsibility. They said it was because of how republican prisoners were treated.
A group called Arm na Poblachta claimed to plant a bomb in Belfast in November 2017. They are also believed to be behind a shooting in Antrim in 2018.
On January 19, 2019, a car bomb attacked a courthouse in Derry. In March, letter bombs were found at London airports and a train station. The New IRA claimed these.
On April 18, 2019, a New IRA gunman shot and killed journalist Lyra McKee during riots in Derry.
On June 1, 2019, a powerful bomb was found under a PSNI officer's car in Belfast. The New IRA claimed responsibility.
The Continuity IRA was blamed for a bomb attempt on July 26, 2019. Police found a fake mortar and a hidden bomb.
On August 19, 2019, a bomb exploded near Newtownbutler. It was thought to target PSNI officers.
On February 5, 2020, the PSNI found a bomb in a lorry in Lurgan. It was believed to be planted by the CIRA. They wanted it to explode on a ferry to Scotland.
On April 19, 2021, a bomb was planted near a female PSNI officer's car in Dungiven. It was defused. The New IRA claimed responsibility.
On March 12, 2022, Arm na Poblachta left an unexploded bomb near Dungiven. It targeted a PSNI vehicle. On November 17, 2022, a bomb was thrown at a police car in Strabane. No officers were hurt.
On February 27, 2023, the New IRA said they shot PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell. He was shot many times in front of his son. Rallies condemned the shooting. Arm na Poblachta also claimed to plant a bomb in Derry.
On March 4, 2023, Arm na Poblachta made threats against the families of PSNI officers. These threats were widely condemned. The terrorism threat level for Northern Ireland was raised to "severe." This means an attack is "highly likely."
See also
- Corsican conflict
- Timeline of the Northern Ireland Troubles
Images for kids
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Map of Ireland
