Irish People's Liberation Organisation

The Irish People's Liberation Organisation was an Irish republican paramilitary organization which was formed in 1986 by disaffected and expelled members of the Irish National Liberation Army in the aftermath of the supergrass trials.

Related Topics:
Irish republican - Irish National Liberation Army - Supergrass trials

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Its main purpose was to destroy the Republican Socialist Movement from which it had split, and most of its early attacks reflected this, being more frequently against former comrades than on the security forces of the British state. In this they carried on a theme seen in different shades of the various Irish republican movements throughout the 20th century.

Related Topics:
Republican Socialist Movement - 20th century

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The INLA shot and killed IPLO leader Gerard Steenson in March 1986, and following revenge killings by the IPLO, the organisations agreed to go their separate ways.

Related Topics:
Gerard Steenson - March 1986

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The IPLO was increasingly becoming involved in the drugs trade, especially in ecstasy, and was becoming a haven for those who fell out with the Provisional IRA: the portents for its future were not good. A fallout over the proceeds of one transaction cost the life of Jimmy Brown, reputedly the only IPLO leader with any politics at all. A full-scale feud followed between two factions (Army Council and Belfast Brigade) which led to the 3000th killing of the Troubles. This was one feud which made no pretence of being anything other than a lethal squabble over money.

Related Topics:
Drug - Ecstasy - Provisional IRA - Jimmy Brown

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Eventually, the Provisional IRA decided enough was enough and on Saturday 31 October 1992 approximately one hundred IRA members systematically wiped the IPLO from the face of Belfast killing Belfast Brigade leader Sammy Ward, and only sparing more on condition of their unconditional surrender, which was forthcoming from both factions within days.

Related Topics:
31 October - 1992 - Belfast - Sammy Ward

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

According to the Sutton database of deaths at the University of Ulster's CAIN projecthttp://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/crosstabs.html, the IPLO was responsible for 22 killings during the Troubles. Among its victims were twelve civilians, six INLA members, two loyalist paramilitaries and two members of the British security forces.

Related Topics:
University of Ulster - Troubles - Loyalist

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~