North in Crisis: Provos ‘effectively’ stood down but hardliners still use violence, says Michael McDowell

Former justice minister Michael McDowell said he believed the IRA has “effectively been stood down as a paramilitary organisation” — but that hardline members continue to use “extreme violence”.

Mr McDowell, minister at the time of the IRA decision to “end the armed struggle” in July 2005, said the Irish and British governments had taken the view to allow the IRA to exist as an “inert paper thing”.

He said the decision was taken not to insist on a formal liquidation of the IRA, which could run the risk of a break-away group taking over the mantle.