Provisional IRA: DUP welcomes operation by PSNI Terrorism Investigation Unit against IRA criminality

By Philip Bradfield
Published 20th Feb 2023, 19:07 BST
Updated 21st Feb 2023, 15:22 BST
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A Policing Board member has welcomed a PSNI press statement detailing an operation against alleged terror offences linked to the Provisional IRA.

It is understood the statement may be the first proactive statement in memory which highlights PSNI operations against PIRA-linked criminality.

The statement on Friday said that detectives from the Terrorism Investigation Unit (TIA) had searched a house in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast in relation to alleged terrorism offences.

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Detective Inspector Dane said: “The investigation follows information received that a number of people were believed to be wearing items of clothing associated with a proscribed organisation, namely the Provisional IRA. The individuals were part of a funeral cortege walking on a public street in north Belfast on Monday December 26 2022.”

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne told the News Letter in 2021 that his assessment of the Provisional IRA's status had not changed since the Northern Ireland Office's 2015 report found that it was still providing the overarching strategy to Sinn Fein.PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne told the News Letter in 2021 that his assessment of the Provisional IRA's status had not changed since the Northern Ireland Office's 2015 report found that it was still providing the overarching strategy to Sinn Fein.
PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne told the News Letter in 2021 that his assessment of the Provisional IRA's status had not changed since the Northern Ireland Office's 2015 report found that it was still providing the overarching strategy to Sinn Fein.

The incident came only three days after the death of former high-profile Ardoyne Provisional IRA member Jimmy Donnelly.

Last year the News Letter revealed that Northern Ireland's Paramilitary Crime Task Force (PCTF) – which regularly publicises operations against the UVF, UDA and INLA – does not carry out any operations against the PIRA or dissident republican terror groups.

Instead, the News Letter revealed that such threats were dealt with by the TIA, which many Policing Board members had been unaware of, but which specialises in addressing threats to national security.

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The unusual nature of a statement highlighting an operation by the TIA linked to PIRA criminality is underlined by the fact that it is the only press statement on the PSNI website which mentions 'Provisional IRA'.

Provisional IRA weaponry recovered by the security forces from the IRA, as photographed in 2001. The 2015 Northern Ireland Office report reaffirmed by the PSNI in 2021 said the group still retains arms and is involved in murders.Provisional IRA weaponry recovered by the security forces from the IRA, as photographed in 2001. The 2015 Northern Ireland Office report reaffirmed by the PSNI in 2021 said the group still retains arms and is involved in murders.
Provisional IRA weaponry recovered by the security forces from the IRA, as photographed in 2001. The 2015 Northern Ireland Office report reaffirmed by the PSNI in 2021 said the group still retains arms and is involved in murders.

The DUP’s lead Policing Board representative Trevor Clarke MLA said: “Whilst the recent PSNI operation is welcome, it must not form part of a piecemeal approach to investigating threats posed by, or associated with, the Provisional IRA.

“One house search is ultimately a drop in the ocean when we think of the residual harm caused by the clear failings in the PSNI approach toward the IRA show of strength at the funeral of Bobby Storey.”

Sinn Fein and the PSNI were invited to comment.

The PSNI responded on Tuesday afternoon, 21 February.

A police spokesperson said: “The Terrorism Investigation Unit (TIU) deals with a mixture of proactive and reactive investigations, focused on a broad range of terrorism. It is committed to investigating and disrupting the criminal activity of individuals and groups involved in all terrorist activity.

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“The Police Service of Northern Ireland provides factual information, via online and social media channels as well as the media, on operational activity to ensure the public are provided with reassurance that these types of serious crimes are being investigated.”