• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Irish America

Irish America

Irish America

  • HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
    • ABOUT US
    • OUR CONTRIBUTORS
  • IN THIS ISSUE
  • HALL OF FAME
  • THE LISTS
    • BUSINESS 100
    • HALL OF FAME
    • HEALTH AND LIFE SCIENCES 50
    • WALL STREET 50
  • LIBRARY
  • TRAVEL
  • EVENTS

British and Irish Governments Seek U.S. Ban on Real IRA

By Irish America Staff
February / March 2001

February 1, 2001 by Leave a Comment

The Omagh bombing of 1998.

The Irish and British governments have asked the United States to designate the Real IRA as a terrorist organization, a step that would prevent the organization from raising funds in the U.S. The Real IRA is widely believed to be responsible for planting the bomb that killed 31 people – including unborn twins – in Omagh in 1998. The organization has resurfaced recently and poses a threat to the peace process.

The Real IRA and their political wing, the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, already have very little support in the U.S., and Garda (Irish police) Commissioner Pat Byrne and RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary) chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan have raised the question as to whether designating the Real IRA a terrorist organization would not be counterproductive and in fact elevate the group’s status in Irish American circles.

Lawyer Frank Durkan, a prominent member of New York City’s Irish American community believes that designating the Real IRA as a terrorist organization would put them on the defensive and actually incite further acts of terrorism. “Once you start labeling people, you get their backs up. You don’t know what they might do then,” he told The Irish Voice.

Another reason he was reluctant to see the Real IRA designated as terrorists is, “I don’t like the idea of people being labeled as terrorists. I always think of the old saying `One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.'” ♦

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Highlights

News
Articles and stories from Irish America.....
MORE

Hibernia
News from Ireland and happenings in Irish America.....
MORE

Those We Lost
Remembering some of the great Irish Americans who have passed.....
MORE

Slainte!
Discover Irish ancestry, predilections, and recipes.....
MORE

Photo Album
Irish America readers share the stories of their ancestors....
MORE

More Articles

  • Ireland's Groovy Arts Minister

    Ireland's Groovy Arts Minister

    Colin Lacey talks to Michael D. Higgins (recently dubbed by British Vogue as the world's grooviest ...
  • Roots: The O'Briens

    Roots: The O'Briens

    The O'Briens are one of the great Gaelic families of Ireland, and were the rulers of the ancient kin...
  • President Trump Proclaims Irish Heritage Month

    President Trump Proclaims Irish Heritage Month

    The President calls on Irish Americans to celebrate their "contributions to our Nation," adding,"Iri...
  • A Tribute to Justice: The William Brennan Legacy

    A Tribute to Justice: The William Brennan Legacy

    The death of Justice William Brennan in July, after a long illness, was mourned by President Clinton...

Footer

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Give a Gift
  • Newsletter

Additional

  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · IrishAmerica Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in