Paramilitary Groups: Northern Ireland Good Friday Agreement

Strand Three: Security:

3. The Secretary of State will consult regularly on progress, and the response to any continuing paramilitary activity, with the Irish Government and the political parties, as appropriate.

Implementation History

1998

Intermediate Implementation

The Good Friday Agreement required all paramilitary to cease their activities and maintain ceasefire. While decommissioning of weapons in possession of the IRA remained a main obstacle to the peace process until 2005, the IRA resorted to ceasefire and disbanded itself. The Ulster Defense Association/Ulster Freedom Fighters and Ulster Volunteer Force also resorted to ceasefire and did not participate in any paramilitary activities. They ceased paramilitary activities.

The Continuity Irish Republican Army, the Loyalist Volunteer Force, the Irish National Liberation Army and the Real Irish Republican Army were recognized as terrorist groups, and their commitment to ceasefire was not recognized as they were involved in ceasefire violations after the ceasefire announcement in 1997.1

1. "Paramilitary Groups Across the Divide", BBC News, accessed 1 February 2013, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/events/northern_ireland/paramilitaries/69824.stm

1999

Intermediate Implementation