Interesting stuff on Newsnight tonight…In a new poll six out of ten nationalists – including almost half of Sinn Fein voters – believe the IRA should disband now, and almost half were dissatisfied with Sinn Fein’s reaction to the Robert McCartney killing.
Word also has it, from my own sources, that some prominent members of the Provisionals are calling Gerry Adams a tout within the movement, leading some to speculate that a rift may be appearing within the IRA.
A return to war cannot be completely discounted, at least among those who see the political fallout surrounding Sinn Fein as an excuse to return to violence – though such talk is speculation at this point.
Just out of curiosity, if you’d taken a similar poll in 1985, what percentage of natinalists would have wanted the IRA disbanded?