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Army admits 'not defeating IRA' Army paper says IRA not defeated
(about 3 hours later)
The Army has admitted for the first time that it did not win the war against the IRA. An internal British army document examining 37 years of deployment in Northern Ireland contains the claim by one expert that it failed to defeat the IRA.
The admission is contained in an internal document released by the Ministry of Defence after a request under the Freedom of Information Act. The admission is contained in a discussion document released by the Ministry of Defence after a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Army also admitted mistakes were made on Bloody Sunday, but only in how it deployed its vehicles. The 100 page document analyses in detail the army's role over 37 years.
The 100 page document analyses in detail the British army's role in Northern Ireland over 37 years. It focuses on specific operations and gives an overview of its performance.
It focuses on specific operations as well as providing an overview of its performance. The sim-month study, covering the period 1968-2005, was prepared under the direction of the then chief of general staff, General Sir Mike Jackson.
The document, obtained by the Pat Finucane Centre, points to a number of mistakes, including internment and highlights what lessons have been learnt.The document, obtained by the Pat Finucane Centre, points to a number of mistakes, including internment and highlights what lessons have been learnt.
It describes the IRA as "a professional, dedicated, highly skilled and resilient force", while loyalist paramilitaries and other republican groups are described as "little more than a collection of gangsters".It describes the IRA as "a professional, dedicated, highly skilled and resilient force", while loyalist paramilitaries and other republican groups are described as "little more than a collection of gangsters".
The Army admits mistakes over Bloody Sunday - but only in how it used vehicles during the arrest operation.
It concedes for the first time that it did not win the battle against the IRA - but claims to have "shown the IRA that it could not achieve its ends through violence".It concedes for the first time that it did not win the battle against the IRA - but claims to have "shown the IRA that it could not achieve its ends through violence".
In a statement, the Pat Finucane Centre - a human rights group - said the document "betrays a profoundly colonial mindset towards the conflict here and those involved in it".In a statement, the Pat Finucane Centre - a human rights group - said the document "betrays a profoundly colonial mindset towards the conflict here and those involved in it".
"Loyalist violence and the links between loyalist paramilitaries and the state has been airbrushed out of this military history," it said."Loyalist violence and the links between loyalist paramilitaries and the state has been airbrushed out of this military history," it said.