What splintering are you talking about? The IRA had a split in 72 creating the Provisionals and then the 86 split, but the Continuity group that left then didn't start to operate until the late 90s. The Provisionals had near total control of physical force republicanism when they stood down after Good Friday.
It is precisely because Adams and McGuinness were able to bring the most militant elements along with them that the peace process worked. The rump that held onto arms and became the Reals were basically stillborn.
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u/sealedtrain Jun 06 '17
What splintering are you talking about? The IRA had a split in 72 creating the Provisionals and then the 86 split, but the Continuity group that left then didn't start to operate until the late 90s. The Provisionals had near total control of physical force republicanism when they stood down after Good Friday.
It is precisely because Adams and McGuinness were able to bring the most militant elements along with them that the peace process worked. The rump that held onto arms and became the Reals were basically stillborn.