How interested do you think the British intelligence service is of the IRA or so called disbanded?

Question

in this day and age??

Answer 1

I would imagine that they still hold an interest although not perhaps as strong as it was in prvious times.

There are still people around that were strong supporters and strong feelings are hard to lose. British intelligence would not want to be guilty of thinking there was no chance of future problems and something major happening.

Answer 2

Here is my take on this. I am from N. Ireland and we had one of the best intelligence networks on both sides during the troubles. A lot of time and money was invested in N. Ireland for intelligence but now that the IRA have disbanded the Intelligence Services need to justify their huge budgets by creating new threats.

Now I am not saying that there is no threat from Muslim extremists but I believe that the threat is overstated by the Intelligence community to justify the huge amount of tax payers money that they earn.

After the London Bombing we have had series of arrests on terror charges with justifications like "bomb making equipment was found" or "material of use to terrorists" was found. Now what exactly does that mean. For example sugar makes a great accelerant in a bomb. A visit to an Anarchist website ot owning a copy of the anarachists cook book could also be deemed material of use to terrorists. Add the extra ingredient of being Muslim to the equation and it makes a conviction easy and thus justifies the wages of those in the intelligence community. Just like during the troubles when the Birmingham 6 and Guildford 4 and Macguire 7 were all convicted on trumped up charges. Had they not been Catholic and in the wrong place at the wrong time they wouldn't have been convicted. I wonder how many innocent Muslims will end up in British jails at the cost to the taxpayer just to justífy an intelligence budget!

Answer 3

Officially the threat from Irish Republicans is now regarded as a minor but still present threat. There have been no outrages on the British mainland for some years now but private security consultants working on large gatherings are always briefed on the Irish question especially if royalty or prominent politicians are to be present. The IRA has not technically disbanded but is in reserve. This is because the supply of weaponry from the Soviet Bloc has ceased and since somebody decided to run an aeroplane or two into New York , American funding for terrorist acts has dwindled dramatically.

Answer 4

the british goverment have still kept the special branch open to track the ira and allways will the ira will never be disbanned to many people want the brits out of ireland. the most important thing the british goverment are worrying about is where the ira have put the 12 sam (surface to air ) missiles they bought (these have not been fired yet). there wil allways be violence in ireland and the way the goverment see it is to send in the police and the army so they have someone to throw there petrol bombs at so they dont start doing it to each other as much then there wont be as much war.

Answer 5

Very. The IRA has disappeared before or stopped fighting. Only to reappear again. Ireland is basically the longest colonial guerrilla war in British history and long predates the IRA. The bitter truth is as long as there are British in Ireland there will probably be wars and some form of the IRA. The greatest guerrilla leader of the twentieth century was probably the one who started it all. Michael Collins, the big fella, all the others from Mao through Giap,learned a bit from him. I would not be surprised if Osama had.

Answer 6

British Intelligence will always keep a close eye on members of the I.R.A
Special Branch, which was originally set up to deal with the "Irish Problem" Will still be pro-active in this area!
Nothing is filed away for good!

Answer 7

They've been so busy with Al Qaeda recently that the IRA disbanded through lack of interest.
Actually since the Americans realised they were terrorists and banned fund raisers for them they can't afford it.

Answer 8

They were a major threat, not so long ago. Possibly even a bigger threat than Al Queda?

They will still be watching the IRA but won't be so concerned about IRA movements.

I think they are far more concerned with Islamic terrorists.

Answer 9

personally only a fool would buy into the assine idea that the ira have actually disbanded................

trust me they are still alive and kicking but as long as they attack each other and keep it off the mainland I could not care less.

Answer 10

IRA - disbanded - Are you as mad as Tony Bliar?