Sir, – I am an ex-IRA man and writer of a memoir titled Southside Provisional, From Freedom Fighter to the Four Courts. I am now a criminal defence solicitor in Dublin.
I joined the IRA in 1970 and left in December 1993 on the night of the Downing Street Declaration, with which I profoundly disagreed, as it meant the IRA intended to accept the British position it had fought against for 25 years. I write in relation to the various IRAs that succeeded the Provisionals. In my view they have precisely the same mandate as we had. That is, none at all beyond the revolutionary mandate claimed by all who participate in revolutions.
My quarrel with the successor IRAs is simply practical. If we could not dislodge the British with our enormous arsenal, years’ of experience, and technical knowledge, it simply can’t be done. To continue is futile, useless. It does little more than expose their volunteers to the risk of death and long terms of imprisonment, as has, and is, happening.
More pertinently, one of these groups, Óglaigh na hÉireann, recently declared a ceasefire (irishtimes.com, January 23rd). Following similar ceasefires in the 1920s, 1940s, and 1960s, governments on both sides of the Border acted sensibly and released their IRA prisoners. Not this time. In the earlier periods government and justice departments were run by people with a memory of the earlier amnesties and a bit of common sense.
Anyway, my hope is that both the Irish and British governments will have a bit of sense and release the prisoners belonging to the group on ceasefire. It can only go to cement the latter. And encourage those IRAs who are still active to do the same. – Yours, etc,
KIERAN CONWAY,
Foxrock, Dublin 18.