Continuity Irish Republican Army

Continuity Irish Republican Army
Óglaigh na hÉireann
CIRA propaganda video
Leadership	Continuity Army Council
Dates of operation	1986–present[1]
Allegiance	Irish Republic[n 1]
Group(s)	Republican Sinn Féin (political wing) Fianna Éireann (youth wing) Cumann na mBan (women's wing)
Active regions	Northern Ireland (mainly) Republic of Ireland
Ideology	Physical force Irish republicanism Irish nationalism Irish republican legitimism Dissident republicanism Éire Nua
Size	About 50 (as of July 2012)[3][4]
Allies	NIRA[5]
Opponents	British Government British Army Police Service of Northern Ireland An Garda Síochána Irish Army
Battles and wars	Dissident Irish Republican campaign
Designated as a terrorist group by	United Kingdom United States New Zealand
Preceded by Provisional Irish Republican Army

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The Continuity Irish Republican Army (Continuity IRA or CIRA), styling itself as the Irish Republican Army (

The Continuity IRA has its origins in a split in the Provisional IRA. In September 1986, the Provisional IRA held a General Army Convention (GAC), the organisation's supreme decision-making body. It was the first GAC in 16 years. The meeting, which like all such meetings was secret, was convened to discuss among other resolutions, the articles of the Provisional IRA constitution which dealt with abstentionism, specifically its opposition to the taking of seats in Dáil Éireann (the parliament of the Republic of Ireland).^[12] The GAC passed motions (by the necessary two-thirds majority) allowing members of the Provisional IRA to discuss and debate the taking of parliamentary seats, and the removal of the ban on members of the organisation from supporting any successful republican candidate who took their seat in Dáil Éireann.^[13][14]

The Provisional IRA convention delegates opposed to the change in the constitution claimed that the convention was

Maguire rejected Adams' supporters, supported the IRA Executive members opposed to the change, and named the new organisers the Continuity Army Council.[16] In a 1986 statement, he rejected "the legitimacy of an Army Council styling itself the Council of the Irish Republican Army which lends support to any person or organisation styling itself as Sinn Féin and prepared to enter the partition parliament of Leinster House." In 1987, Maguire described the "Continuity Executive" as the "lawful Executive of the Irish Republican Army."^[17]

Campaign

Initially, the Continuity IRA did not reveal its existence, either in the form of press statements or paramilitary activity. Although the Garda Síochána had suspicions that the organisation existed, they were unsure of its name, labelling it the "Irish National Republican Army".^[18] On 21 January 1994, on the 75th anniversary of the First Dáil Éireann, a group of men in paramilitary dress offered a "final salute" to Tom Maguire by firing over his grave. A public statement headed "Irish Republican Publicity Bureau" signed "B Ó Ruairc, Rúnaí [Secretary]" identifying the firing party as "Volunteers of Óglaigh na hÉireann-the Irish Republican Army", and two accompanying photos were published in Saoirse Irish Freedom.^[19] Garda Special Branch detectives raided the headquarters of Republican Sinn Féin at Arran Quay, Dublin, two days after the graveside volley, seizing files and questioning staff.^[20] In February 1994 it was reported that in previous months Gardaí had found arms dumps along the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth that did not belong to the Provisional IRA, and forensics tests determined had been used for firing practice recently.^[21]

It was only after the Provisional IRA declared a ceasefire in 1994 that the Continuity IRA became active, announcing its intention to continue the campaign against British rule. The CIRA continues to oppose the

The CIRA has been involved in a number of bombing and shooting incidents. Targets of the CIRA have included the British military, the Northern Ireland police (both the Royal Ulster Constabulary and its successor the Police Service of Northern Ireland). Since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 the CIRA, along with other paramilitaries opposing the ceasefire, have been involved with a countless number of punishment shootings and beatings. By 2005 the CIRA was believed to be an established presence on the island of Great Britain with the capability of launching attacks.^[22] A bomb defused in Dublin in December 2005 was believed to have been the work of the CIRA.^[23] In February 2006, the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) blamed the CIRA for planting four bombs in Northern Ireland during the final quarter of 2005, as well as several hoax bomb warnings.^[24] The IMC also blamed the CIRA for the killings of two former CIRA members in Belfast, who had stolen CIRA weapons and established a rival organisation. ^[25] The CIRA continued to be active in both planning and undertaking attacks on the PSNI. The IMC said they tried to lure police into ambushes, while they have also taken to

In 2013, the Continuity IRA's 'South Down Brigade' threatened a Traveller family in Newry and published a statement in the local newspaper.^{[citation needed]} There were negotiations with community representatives and the CIRA announced the threat was lifted.^{[citation needed]} It was believed the threat was issued after a Traveller feud which resulted in a pipe bomb attack in Bessbrook, near Newry.^{[citation needed]} The Continuity IRA is believed to be strongest in the County Fermanagh – North County Armagh area (Craigavon, Armagh and Lurgan).^{[citation needed]} It is believed to be behind a number of attacks such as pipe bombings, rocket attacks, gun attacks, and the PSNI claimed it orchestrated riots a number of times to lure police officers into areas such as Kilwilkie in Lurgan and Drumbeg in Craigavon in order to attack them.^{[citation needed]} It also claimed the group orchestrated a riot during a security alert in Lurgan. The alert turned out to be a hoax.^{[30][failed verification]}

On Easter 2016, the Continuity IRA marched in paramilitary uniforms through North Lurgan, Co Armagh, without any hindrance from the PSNI who monitored the parade from a police helicopter.^[31]

In July and August 2019 the CIRA carried out attempted bomb attacks on the PSNI in Craigavon, County Armagh and Wattlebridge, County Fermanagh.^[32][33]

On 5 February 2020,

Claim to legitimacy

Main article:

Irish Republican Army or Óglaigh na hÉireann.^[34] This argument is based on the view that the surviving anti-Treaty members of the Second Dáil delegated their "authority" to the IRA Army Council in 1938. As further justification for this claim, Tom Maguire, one of those anti-Treaty members of the Second Dáil, issued a statement in favour of the Continuity IRA, just as he had done in 1969 in favour of the Provisionals. J. Bowyer Bell, in his The Irish Troubles, describes Maguire's opinion in 1986: "abstentionism was a basic tenet of republicanism, a moral issue of principle. Abstentionism gave the movement legitimacy, the right to wage war, to speak for a Republic all but established in the hearts of the people".^[35] Maguire's stature was such that a delegation from Gerry Adams sought his support in 1986, but was rejected.^[36]

Relationship to other organisations

These changes within the IRA were accompanied by changes on the political side and at the 1986 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis (party conference), which followed the IRA Convention, the party's policy of abstentionism, which forbade Sinn Féin elected representatives from taking seats in the Oireachtas, the parliament of the Republic, was dropped. On 2 November, the 628 delegates present cast their votes, the result being 429 to 161. The traditionalists, having lost at both conventions, walked out of the Mansion House, met that evening at the West County Hotel, and reformed as Republican Sinn Féin (RSF).^[37]

According to a report in the Cork Examiner, the Continuity IRA's first chief of staff was

Republican Movement.^[39]

Structure and status

The leadership of the Continuity IRA is believed to be based in the provinces of

chief of staff was a Limerick man and that a number of other key members were from that county, until their expulsion. Dáithí Ó Conaill was the first chief of staff until 1991.^[38] In 2004 the United States (US) government believed the Continuity IRA consisted of fewer than fifty hardcore activists.^[40] In 2005, Irish Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell told Dáil Éireann that the organisation had a maximum of 150 members.^[41]

The CIRA is an illegal organisation under UK (section 11(1) of the

Foreign Terrorist Organization'.^[45] This made it illegal for Americans to provide material support to the CIRA, requires US financial institutions to block the group's assets and denies alleged CIRA members visas into the US.^[46]

External aid and arsenal

The US government suspects the Continuity IRA of having received funds and arms from supporters in the United States. Security sources in Ireland have expressed the suspicion that, in co-operation with the RIRA, the Continuity IRA may have acquired arms and materiel from the Balkans. They also suspect that the Continuity IRA arsenal contains some weapons that were taken from Provisional IRA arms dumps,^{[citation needed]} including a few dozen rifles, machine guns, and pistols; a small amount of the explosive Semtex; and a few dozen detonators.^[47]

Internal tension and splits

In 2005, several members of the CIRA, who were serving prison sentences in Portlaoise Prison for paramilitary activity, left the organisation. Some transferred to the INLA landing of the prison, but the majority of those who left are now independent and on E4 landing. The remaining CIRA prisoners have moved to D Wing. Supporters of the Continuity IRA leadership claim that this resulted from an internal disagreement, which although brought to a conclusion, was followed by some people leaving the organisation anyway. Supporters of the disaffected members established the Concerned Group for Republican Prisoners. Most of those who had left went back to the CIRA, or dissociated themselves from the CGRP, which is now defunct.

In February 2006, the Independent Monitoring Commission claimed in a report on paramilitary activity that two groups, styling themselves as "Óglaigh na hÉireann" and "Saoirse na hÉireann", had been formed after a split in the Continuity IRA either in early 2006 or late 2005.^[48] The Óglaigh na hÉireann group was responsible for a number of pipe bomb attacks on the PSNI, bomb hoaxes, and robberies, the IMC also claimed the organisation was responsible for the killing of Andrew Burns on 12 February 2008 and was seeking to recruit former members of the RIRA.^[49] The Saoirse na hÉireann (SNH) group was composed of "disaffected and largely young republicans" and was responsible for a number of bomb hoaxes, two of which took place in September 2006. It was thought to have operated largely in republican areas of Belfast .^[48][50] The groups had apparently ceased operations by early 2009.^[51]

In 2007, the Continuity IRA was responsible for shooting dead two of its members who had left and attempted to create their own organisation. Upon leaving the CIRA, they had allegedly taken a number of guns with them.^[52] The Continuity IRA is believed by Gardaí to have been involved in a number of gangland killings in Dublin and Limerick.

In July 2010, members of a "militant Northern-based faction within the CIRA" led by a well-known member from south Londonderry claimed to have overthrown the leadership of the organisation. They also claimed that an Army Convention representing "95 per cent of volunteers" had unanimously elected a new 12-member Army Executive, which in turn appointed a new seven-member Army Council. The moves came as a result of dissatisfication with the southern-based leadership and the apparent winding-down of military operations. A senior source from RSF said: "We would see them [the purported new leadership] as just another splinter group that has broken away."^[53] This organisation is referred to as the Real CIRA.^[54]

In June 2011 CIRA member Liam Kenny was murdered, allegedly by drug dealers, at his home in Clondalkin, West Dublin.^[55] On 28 November 2011 an innocent man was mistakenly shot dead in retaliation for the murder of Liam Kenny. Limerick Real IRA volunteer Rose Lynch pleaded guilty to this murder at the Special Criminal Court and was sentenced to life imprisonment.^[56]

In July 2012 the CIRA announced it had a new leadership after expelling members who had been working against the organisation.^[57]

In April 2014 a former leading member of the Belfast Continuity IRA who had been expelled from the organisation, Tommy Crossan, was shot dead.^[58]

In popular culture

The CIRA are depicted in RTÉ's TV series crime drama Love/Hate.^[59]

Notes

1. ^ Irish republicans do not recognise any of the Irish states since 1922, but declare their allegiance to the extinct Republic of 1919–21.^[2]

References

1. ^ Connla Young (26 January 2018). "Republican groups have no plans for ÓNH-style ceasefire". The Irish News. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
2. ISBN 0-330-49388-4
   ), p. 106.
3. ^ "Chapter 6. Foreign Terrorist Organizations". U.S. Department of State.
4. ^ "Terrorist Organization Profiles – START – National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism". start.umd.edu.
5. ^ "New IRA and Continuity IRA discuss joint attacks". The Times. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
6. ISBN 978-0199243341
   .
7. ^ "Schedule 2: Proscribed Organisations". Terrorism Act 2000. UK Public General Acts. Vol. 2000 c. 11. 20 July 2000. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013.
8. ^ "Lists associated with Resolution 1373". New Zealand Police. 20 July 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014. 7/13/2004: Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA)
9. ^ "Foreign Terrorist Organizations". United States Department of State. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
10. ^ "Continuity IRA: Four things you need to know about the group claiming responsibility for the Dublin weigh-in murder". Newsweek. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
11. ^ Sutton Index of Deaths. CAIN.
12. ISBN 1-85371-813-0
13. CAIN
    . Retrieved 17 May 2007.
14. ISBN 1-85371-603-0
    .
15. ^ Robert White, Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, The Life and Politics of an Irish Revolutionary, 2006, p. 309.
16. ^ Robert White, Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, the Life and Politics of an Irish Revolutionary. 2006. Indiana University Press. p310
17. ^ Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, Dilseacht, The Story of Comdt. General Tom Maguire and the Second (all-Ireland) Dáil, 1997, pp. 65–66.
18. ^ David Kerr (1997). "The Continuity IRA". Ulster Nation. Archived from the original on 5 May 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2007.
19. ^ "Final Salute to Comdt-General Tom Maguire", Saoirse, Feabhra-February 1994, p. 2; see also, Robert White, Ruairi O Bradaigh, the Life and Politics of an Irish Revolutionary. 2006. Indiana University Press, pp. 323–24.
20. ^ "Files Seized in Raid", Irish Independent, 25 January 1994.
21. ^ IRA splinter group threat to ceasefire", Irish Independent, 5 February 1994.
22. ^ Martin Bright and Henry McDonald (20 March 2005). "Irish terror groups 'to hit London'". The Observer. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
23. ^ "Continuity IRA link suspected in M50 alert". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 9 December 2005. Retrieved 16 March 2007.
24. ^ Independent Monitoring Commission (1 February 2006). Eighth report of the Independent Monitoring Commission (PDF) (Report). The Stationery Office. pp. 13–14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 June 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2007.
25. ^ Independent Monitoring Commission (7 November 2007). Seventeenth report of the Independent Monitoring Commission (PDF) (Report). The Stationery Office. pp. 9–10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
26. ^ "Twentieth Report of the Independent Monitoring Commission" (PDF). The Stationery Office. 10 November 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
27. ^ "Continuity IRA shot dead officer". BBC News. London. 10 March 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
28. RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 10 March 2009. Archived from the original
    on 11 March 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
29. ^ Henry McDonald (26 March 2009). "Northern Ireland killings were an act of war, says hardline republican group". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
30. ^ "Continuity IRA". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
31. ^ correspondent, Henry McDonald Ireland (5 May 2016). "Fifteen men arrested in Northern Ireland after paramilitary funeral". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
32. ^ "Fermanagh bomb attack 'carried out by Continuity IRA'". BBC News. 22 August 2019.
33. ^ "Continuity IRA behind bomb targeting police in Craigavon". 29 July 2019.
34. ISBN 978-0-7546-4990-8
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35. ISBN 1-85371-813-0
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36. ^ Robert W. White, Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, The Life and Politics of an Irish Revolutionary, 2006, p. 310.
37. ISBN 1-85371-813-0
38. ^ ^{a b} "CIRA bomb adds to growing crisis in the peace process". Irish Examiner. 2 July 2000. Archived from the original on 9 May 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2007.
39. ^ See text of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh's 2005 Bodenstown oration Archived 18 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
40. ^ "Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA)". Federation of American Scientists. 13 July 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
41. ^ "Parliamentary Debates (Official Report – Unrevised)". Dáil Éireann. 23 June 2005. Archived from the original on 17 February 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
42. ^ "Statutory Rules and Orders, 1939, No. 162. Unlawful Organisation (Suppression) Order, 1939". Irish Statute Book Database. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2007.
43. ^ Kate O'Hanlon (25 May 2005). "Membership of Real IRA was a terrorism offence". The Independent. Archived from the original on 4 November 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2007.
44. ^ "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 30 October 2002 (pt 8)". House of Commons. 30 October 2002. Retrieved 17 March 2007.
45. ^ "US Department of State, Office of Counterterrorism Fact sheet 2005". Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
46. ^ "CIRA added to US terror list". BBC News. London. 13 July 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
47. ^ "Decommissioning – how big a task?". BBC News. London. 5 July 1999. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
48. ^ ^{a b} "Eighth Report of the Independent Monitoring Commission" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 June 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2007., 1 February 2006
49. ^ Melaugh, Dr Martin. "CAIN: Abstracts of Organisations – 'O'". cain.ulst.ac.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
50. ^ Equality, The Department of Justice and. "Eighth Report of the Independent Monitoring Commission". justice.ie. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
51. ^ Frampton, Martyn (2010). "The Return of the Militants: Violent Dissident Republicanism" (PDF). International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence (ICSR). pp. 2–3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
52. ^ Breen, Suzanne (18 March 2007). "Republican community appalled by gruesome murders". Sunday Tribune. Dublin. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
53. ^ "Militant faction claims it has taken over leadership of CIRA". The Irish Times. 7 July 2010.
54. ISBN 978-0199772858
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55. ^ "Gardaí fear retaliation attack after dissident murder". Irish Independent. 19 June 2011.
56. ^ "Rose Lynch jailed for life over 2011 murder". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
57. RTÉ News and Current Affairs
    . 26 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
58. ^ "Tommy Crossan: Paramilitary funeral for murdered dissident republican". BBC News. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
59. ^ "****SPOILER ALERT**** Ghost of Fran's wife Linda wreaks havoc for Nidge in Love/Hate". The independent. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2020.