KS1 (Age 5-7)KS2 (Age 7-11)11 Plus (Age 7-11)KS3 (Age 11-14)GCSE (Age 14-17)PSHE A.I.ESL Spanish Specialist Games

Need help with Northern Ireland: 1968-98 - Preventing A Peace Agreement, The Paramilitaries? Ask our AI Tutor!

AI Tutor - Lucy

Connecting with Tutor...

Please wait while we establish connection

Hi! I'm Lucy, your AI tutor. How can I help you with Northern Ireland: 1968-98 - Preventing A Peace Agreement, The Paramilitaries today?

now

In 1997 several IRA members were shot dead by British forces whilst planning an attack on the territory of Gibraltar.

Northern Ireland: 1968-98 - Preventing A Peace Agreement, The Paramilitaries

This GCSE History quiz explores how paramilitary violence, intimidation and fear in Northern Ireland made it harder for politicians and communities to agree and stick to peace plans.

Explore the Topic →

(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

Targeted killings of off duty soldiers, police officers, and political figures increased tension. Each killing often led to retaliation from the other community.

In GCSE History, this part of the Northern Ireland course looks at how paramilitary groups tried to block compromise. You study their tactics, motives, and the way violence undermined trust in peace efforts.

Key Terms

Paramilitary group: An organised armed group that is not part of the official army or police, but uses or threatens violence for political or religious aims.
Sectarianism: Hostility and prejudice between different religious or political communities, such as some Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland.
Ceasefire: An agreed pause in fighting, often used in peace processes to build trust and allow political talks to continue.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What were paramilitaries in Northern Ireland during the Troubles?

Paramilitaries in Northern Ireland were illegal armed groups, both republican and loyalist, that used bombings, shootings and intimidation to push their political goals outside normal democratic politics.

How did paramilitary violence make peace talks more difficult?

Paramilitary attacks created fear and anger, which weakened moderate leaders and made compromise look like betrayal. Every new attack reduced trust and made it harder to keep negotiations going.

Why were ceasefires important in the Northern Ireland peace process?

Ceasefires were vital because they reduced daily violence and showed that armed groups might accept political solutions. When ceasefires held, it was easier for parties to stay at the negotiating table.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

A special jail was constructed for both Loyalist and Republican prisoners near Belfast. What was it called?

Crumlin Road

Long Kesh/the Maze

Mountjoy

Kilmainham

Prisoners here were separated into two categories: Loyalists and Republicans. They were both considered to be common criminals in the eyes of the authorities

2 .

After 1971 a new Loyalist terror group began to operate from East Belfast. What was it called?

The Ulster Volunteer Force

The Ulster Defence Association

The Ulster Freedom Fighters

The Red Hand Brigade

Terrorist groups on either side sometimes claimed to have been founded much earlier in the Twentieth Century. Often they were factions that had split off from established groups, following quarrels

3 .

Which legal military formation, recruited locally in Northern Ireland, was accused of harbouring members with links to Loyalist terror organisations?

The Royal Ulster Constabulary

The "B" Specials

The Ulster Defence Regiment

The Ulster Defence Force

Allegations about collusion between Loyalist paramilitaries and the security forces were often made, although difficult to prove

4 .

In 1987 several IRA members were shot dead by British special forces at a British colony. In which territory did this controversial incident take place?

Hong Kong

Bermuda

Gibraltar

Tristan da Cunha

As usual this incident led to further violence, although it was clear to the authorities that the IRA had been planning a spectacular outrage against British forces stationed in the colony

5 .

In 1979 a prominent member of the British Royal Family was murdered by the IRA in the Republic of Ireland. Who was this victim?

Prince William of Gloucester

Princess Mary, the Princess Royal

The Earl of Ulster

Lord Mountbatten

The IRA seemed to want to show that no one was clear of their reach

6 .

In 1974 the INLA split off from the Provisional IRA over an ideological split. They were responsible for the murder of the Tory MP Airey Neave at the Palace of Westminster in 1979. What do the letters INLA stand for?

Irish Northern Liberation Army

Irish Nationalist Liberation Army

Irish National Liberation Army

Ireland's National Liberation Army

This was a small, but deadly group, usually in the shadow of the Provisional IRA

7 .

Which Arab state was responsible for sending quantities of the explosive semtex (made in Czechoslovakia) to Northern Ireland for use by the IRA?

Syria

Iraq

Yemen

Libya

The IRA had links with other terrorist groups all over the world, including ETA in the Basque Provinces of Spain

8 .

Both Loyalist and Republican paramilitaries used drastic methods to enforce order in their respective areas. Which of the following methods of punishment did they both share?

Death by hanging

Death by shooting

Imposing large fines

Knee-capping (i.e. a bullet through the knee cap)

Many of these areas were virtual "no go" sectors for the security forces. Yet they were often orderly in a rough and ready sort of way - as a result of these drastic measures

9 .

Republican prisoners used various tactics to fight for "prisoner of war" status, for example the right to drill and to wear paramilitary uniform. One such tactic was the hunger strike. Who was the first hunger-striker to die, having been elected a Member of Parliament while in jail?

Sean McStiofain

Gerry Conlan

Bobby Sands

Bernard Kelly

There were several deaths before the hunger strikes were called off, when it became clear that the London government would not give in to the prisoners' demands

10 .

In 1984 the IRA almost killed the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, with a timed bomb. In which town did this outrage take place?

London

Warrington

Manchester

Brighton

Several people were killed in this incident, and Thatcher was lucky to survive

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Changing relations: Northern Ireland and its neighbours, 1965-98

Author: Edward Towne