Loyalist Mobilization and Cross-Border Violence in Rural Ulster, 1972-1974

Burke, Edward

Abstract

This article argues that, at a tactical level, loyalist terrorism in the Irish border region between 1972 and 1974 worked. Cross-border attacks including bombings in Irish towns prompted the Irish government to reinforce security along the border—a long-standing loyalist demand. The loyalist campaign led to the IRA embarking on an effort to punish those who were believed to have passed information to loyalists, resulting in the killing of an Irish Protestant senator and widespread condemnation of the organization in the Republic of Ireland. However, short-term gains were outweighed by a growing perception among nationalists that the British state tolerated or even colluded in such attacks, undermining the British Army’s campaign to gain trust (and information) within the Catholic population of Northern Ireland. The article also contends that middle-class loyalists played an important role in mobilizing and equipping loyalist paramilitary organizations. It concludes that the British Army showed an excessive tolerance of loyalists with political capital or ties to the security forces, despite evidence that such individuals were directly supporting the activities of loyalist paramilitaries.

Citation

Burke, E. (2022). Loyalist Mobilization and Cross-Border Violence in Rural Ulster, 1972-1974. Terrorism and Political Violence, 34(6), 1057-1075. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2020.1745777

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 16, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Apr 14, 2020
• Publication Date: 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 17, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 15, 2021
• Journal: Terrorism and Political Violence
• Print ISSN: 0954-6553
• Electronic ISSN: 1556-1836
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1057-1075
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2020.1745777
• Keywords: Political Science and International Relations; Sociology and Political Science; Safety Research; Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4159823
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09546553.2020.1745777?journalCode=ftpv20
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=ftpv20; Published: 2020-04-14