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30 December 2006 1976: IRA leadership faced problems —by Eamon Phoenix, Irish News The Provisional IRA remained the primary threat to security in Northern Ireland in 1976 but was riven by internal leadership problems. This was the verdict of a secret British security assessment on paramilitary organisations considered by a Stormont working party on law and order in February 1976. The memo noted that during 1975 two important developments took place. Firstly the Provisionals' safe haven in the Republic became less safe due to more determined measures by the Irish government and the loss of popular support after blunders such as the Herrema kidnapping. Secondly in Belfast and Derry the support given to the IRA by sections of the minority community in the aftermath of the Civil Rights disturbances of 1968/69 had been withdrawn. The Provisionals no longer had the emotive card of detention to play. The memo went on: "In this changed situation the Provisionals have considerable leadership problems. "Some are arguing for the end of the so-called ceasefire policy and a new all-out campaign before the movement loses direction completely; others argue for a wait-and-see policy until a more favourable climate emerges. "Meanwhile the ceasefire policy, which allows for violence as long as it is called retaliation, enables them to accommodate these conflicting views within the increasingly unconvincing appearance of a coherent policy." The memo said that if this policy changed it would be possible for the Provisionals in Belfast and Derry to undertake a considerably higher level of activity than during 1975 although "perhaps at the cost of further alienation of the minority community". They might not be able to sustain it over a prolonged period but might reckon that such a campaign would bring about a "Protestant backlash" or stronger security measures which would allow them to "once again pose as defenders of the Catholics". According to the memo the situation in border areas, especially south Armagh, was different. "These include some areas of solid support for the republican cause," it read. "It is ideal bandit country. It is clear that the Provisionals in this area straddling the border are operating autonomously, remaining in touch with the Provisional leadership but probably not re-ceiving direct authorisation for specific actions from Dublin." Page updated 30 Dec 2006 Ireland's OWN Logo by Eamann Website Design and Celtic Background by Míchealín Daugherty Copyright © 2006 Ireland's OWN All Rights Reserved.