The army council of the New IRA has no doubt whatsoever about the public odium that its campaign of violence engenders. The members say they know the public will not protest if they are “all rounded up” by the security forces and imprisoned, but claim they will continue to carry out “attacks” even though they realise such actions will not bring about their aspiration of a united Ireland.

“We fully accept we cannot defeat the British militarily, or even drive them from Ireland, but we will continue to fight for as long as they remain here. The attacks are symbolic. They are propaganda. As long as you have the British in Ireland and the country remains partitioned, there will be an IRA. It doesn’t matter