The Villiers Report

By Luke Kelly

In 2015, Theresa Villiers, secretary of state for Northern Ireland, released a report in which she declared that all the main paramilitary groups from the Troubles still remain in existence. The Report “draws on current intelligence, historical material, and analysis to provide an assessment of the structures, roles, and purposes of paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland” (Villiers Report). The report insists that although illegal paramilitary organizations like the UVF and PIRA continue to exist, they have actually been instrumental to the peace process because their leaders have been able to enforce harsh discipline and “keep a lid on a combustible situation” (Keefe 326). The report concludes that “the most serious current terrorist threat in N.I. is not posed by these groups, but by dissident Republicans- paramilitary groups not on ceasefire and who reject the 1998 Belfast Agreement” (Villiers Report). This includes splinter I.R.A. groups like the Real I.R.A., New I.R.A., and Continuity I.R.A.. The main target of these groups is the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland). The report insists that “Their activities pose a severe threat to Northern Ireland’s security and stability, and at any given moment a terrorist attack is likely” (Villiers Report). These dissident Republican groups are mainly engaged in criminal activity that damages financial prosperity and harms communities in Northern Ireland. “This includes large-scale smuggling operations, fuel laundering, drug dealing and extortion of local business” (Villiers Report). The report points out that leaders of the main paramilitary groups are committed to political means to achieve their goals, but existence of small dissident groups is still harmful to the state of Northern Ireland, and makes citizens of N.I. have a reason to be fearful. 

The report caused a media firestorm and “Gerry Adams dismissed the report as nonsense” (Keefe 324). Even though the report essentially gives credit to Adams and other paramilitary leaders for being able to corral the vast majority of people to follow the peace process, it still suggested that high-figure politicians were still running illegal paramilitary organizations behind the scenes. This sent a shock wave through Northern Irish society and politics as the report seemed to reinforce “the notion of men and women in balaclavas running the political show” (Keefe 324). The Villiers report was informative in many ways, but it essentially told people that all those paramilitary leaders who were now involved in politics and and the peace process are still in charge of illegal organizations and would be ready to return to their violent past if need be. The report points out that although these paramilitary groups still existed, they were “no longer engaged in violence and had a wholly political focus” (Keefe 324). However, it seemed to call into question the legitimacy of politicians that were involved in the Troubles and filled Northern Irish society with doubt as to whether they could be trusted. Ultimately, the main takeaway from the Villiers Report was that dissident Republican groups are still operating and they pose a threat to national security and undermine Northern Ireland’s post conflict transformation. 

Although these dissident I.R.A. label themselves as Irish Republicans, their main goals have nothing to do with the Republican movements of the past. They do not seek to fulfill the underlying goal of Republican movements throughout history, which is to bring about a united Ireland. In fact, they have been detrimental to the goals of the modern Republican ideology, which is to bring about a united Ireland through political and peaceful means.  Essentially, these dissident organizations that label themselves as a sect of the Irish Republican Army have nothing to do with the Republican movement or political ambitions. They are simply gangs that operate under the name “Irish Republican Army” and that alone has been very detrimental to Northern Irish society. They still pose a threat to the peace of Northern Ireland, but they are in no way made up of individuals who act in the best interest of achieving a united Ireland. During the Troubles, the I.R.A. was viewed as a terrorist group by some and others had more sympathy for them and would label them as a political army. Regardless of one’s view about the I.R.A. of the past, it is without a doubt that current I.R.A. splinter groups are not freedom fighters and they are simply common criminals involved in a gang-like organization. These are groups that rob banks, deal drugs, and extort neighborhoods. The fact that they call themselves dissident groups of the Irish Republican party and continue to act in ways that harm Northern Irish society, is very damaging to the peace process. The Villiers Report was intended to be educational, and in many ways it is, however it appears to have increased tension in Northern Irish society. Essentially, the Villiers Report points out that in no way is Northern Ireland a peaceful environment and the threat by dissident paramilitary organizations is still very prevalent. This report was informative and it does give an important insight into modern Northern Irish society, however it reignites a fear within the civilian population that sectarian violence still remains. I would argue that the report should have done more to acknowledge that the dissident I.R.A. groups still in commission are common criminal and gang members, regardless of how they label themselves. The Villiers Report openly declared that all paramilitary groups are in existence sent panic throughout Northern Ireland and even though it acknowledges that the main groups are committed to peaceful resolutions, it still led to tension and gives people reason to believe that the violent conflict is not completely in the past. The Villiers Report was intended to be informative and give insight into paramilitary action in Northern Ireland and in that sense it was successful. However, the Report underscores some of the complexities and tensions involved in the reconciliation process and increases the distress that people in Northern Ireland live with. There is still segregation within Northern Irish society, and even though it is not nearly as violent as it was during the Troubles, the future still remains unclear. 

References:

Office, Northern Ireland. “Assessment on Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland.” GOV.UK. GOV.UK, October 20, 2015. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/assessment-on-paramilitary-groups-in-northern-ireland. 

Keefe, Patrick Radden. Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland. Doubleday, 2019, pp. 324-338.