Royal Air Force

Compiled: Martin Melaugh ... Additional Material: Brendan Lynn and Fionnuala McKenna Material is added to this site on a regular basis - information on this page may change Radio Telefis Éireann (RTE) The main television and radio broadcasting company in Republic of Ireland. (xx) [[Web Site]]( This Republican Paramilitary group was formed in November 1997 from dissident members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). These former members of the IRA were opposed to the 'peace process' and the political leadership of Sinn Féin. The rIRA was believed to include a former 'quartermaster-general' of the IRA and a former 'head of engineering'. There was speculation over the following months that many members of the 'engineering' section of the IRA left to join the rIRA. Membership of the organisation was initially put at between 100 and 200 people. Most of the support for the rIRA was initially in the Dundalk and Newry area with some support in Dublin. It is believed to have political links with the Thirty-Two County Sovereignty Committee . The 'real' IRA is also believed to have close links with the Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA). The rIRA is believed to have access to some of the equipment that belonged to the IRA. For a full list see the Chronology of Dissident Republican Activity , 1994-2011. The 'real' IRA admitted to being responsible for the bomb in Omagh on Saturday 15 August 1998. This bomb represented the single worst incident in Northern Ireland during the present conflict with 29 people being killed and hundreds injured. On 18 August 1998 the 'real' IRA announced a suspension of its activities. However, the organisation subsequently reverted to violence with occasional attacks in Northern Ireland and in England. The rIRA may have been responsible for the bomb in London on 4 March 2001. On 26 July 2012 media organisations received a statment which indicated that there had been a realignment and merger of a number of Dissident Republican paramilitary groups. It was reported (The Guardian ; 26 July 2012) that the 'real' Irish Republican Army (rIRA) had merged with Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD) and some other smaller Dissident Republican paramilitary groups. The new grouping adopted the name 'Irish Republican Army'. It was also reported that the 'real' IRA and RAAD will cease to exist as of 26 July 2012. Membership: Membership is probably numbered in the dozens. When the rIRA called its ceasefire in 1998 it is believed that some members joined the CIRA. Arsenal: The rIRA is believed to be in the possession of some weapons that were taken from IRA dumps. The rIRA probably has access to a few dozen rifles, machine guns, and pistols; a small amount of Semtex (commercial high explosive); and a small number of detonators. Red Branch Knights (RBK) A small Loyalist paramilitary group that came to public attention in September 1992. The group claimed responsibility for incendiary devices and a blast bomb left in a Dublin-based bank in Newtownabbey. Statements that were sent to the media threatening action against anyone with political or economic links with the Republic of Ireland. Red Hand Commando (RHC) A small Loyalist paramilitary group which was, at times, closely associated with the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). The RHC was formed in 1972 and had its most support in east Belfast, the Sandy Row area, and parts of County Down. The group was declared illegal in 1973. The RHC was part of the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC). The Loyalist Retaliation and Defence Group (LRDG) was believed to be associated with the RHC. (See also: Ulster Volunteer Force , UVF; Loyalist Retaliation and Defence Group , LRDG.) Red Hand Defenders (RHD) The name 'Red Hand Defenders', a Loyalist paramilitary grouping, was first used 1998. Initially the group was believed to be made up of dissident members of other Loyalist paramilitary goups who were opposed to the Good Friday Agreement. It was thought that the RHD had drawn