The Irish National Liberation Army —by Míchealín Daugherty The Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) and Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) were founded on 10 December 1974 by Séamus Costello and Bernadette Devlin McAliskey.  Most of the members of the INLA were from Official Sinn Féin and the Official IRA (‘stickies’). The People's Liberation Army (PLA) was an umbrella group composed of the INLA and members of the PIRA and OIRA, who joined in helping the IRSM defend itself from attacks from the OIRA. The objective of the INLA is the same as Connolly’s — a  32 county socialist republic, free and independent of british control, and run by the Irish working class. Three of the 10 republican hunger strikers who died in 1981 were in the INLA: Patsy O Hara, Kevin Lynch and Mickey Devine. The INLA is probably best known for the killing of Margaret Thatcher's close aide, Airey Neave in a car bomb at the House of Commons car park. Two of their better known bombings are the Mount Gabriel radar station near Cork, Ireland and the Droppin' Well disco in Ballykelly, Co Derry, which killed 11 british soldiers!  They have also attacked NATO targets in Germany as part of their 'anti-imperialist' struggle. Additionally, the INLA has successfully killed a number of loyalist paramilitaries like John McKeage of the Red Hand Commandos and the terrorist leader of the LVF, Billy Wright (27 December 1997).1,2 Since August 1994, the INLA has held to a 'No First Strike' policy of not initiating any offensive military action, while continuing to respond in actions against the RUC or in retaliation (e.g. Billy 'The Rat' Wright). In the 1980s and early 1990s, growth within the INLA was stunted with in-fighting. In 1987, 13 INLA members died in a murderous vendetta when the IPLO issued a statement that the INLA must disband.  However, the INLA now has an internal cohesion — the last round of faction (1996) fighting occurred when the then INLA chief of staff, Hugh 'Cueball' Torney's violated INLA regulations regarding ceasefire.  Torney was arrested for attempting to smuggle weapons from the Republic to the North of Ireland, and attempted to plea bargain by offering a ceasefire in return for a lighter sentence.  He was ousted as chief of staff. In an attempt to incite more fighting, Torney’s supporters were hired by the Brits to assassinate the newly appointed INLA chief of staff, Gino Gallagher.3 Although already on the 'No First Strike' policy, the INLA declare a 'ceasefire' in 1998.  It has since offered loyalists a 'non-aggression pact' under which rival armed groups would agree not to attack each other and even work together to reduce sectarian tensions on the ground. So far the loyalists have yet to respond. In October of 1999 INLA Volunteer Patrick Campbell (22) was found shot in the head in south Dublin. Campbell was beaten and wounded several times with a machete the city's Ballymount estate. He had died in a dispute protecting the community from drugs. He was given full paramilitary honours at his funeral and INLA sources allegedly vowed to avenge his death.  On 30 Mar 2000, Patrick Neville (31), a drug pusher, who was believed to have been part of the death of Patrick Neville was found shot in the head in the stairwell of some flats in Inchicore. Gardai believe the murder might have been in retaliation for the death of Patrick Campbell. Footnotes: 1Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) Communiqué Concerning The Execution of Billy Wright AKA "King Rat"     "The Irish National Liberation Army claims responsibility for the execution of "King Rat", Billy Wright. This action was taken against the backdrop of ongoing genocide against the nationalist community. These attacks are being mainly conducted by the LVF (Loyalist Volunteer Force), until this morning by Billy Wright. The execution of Wright is in keeping with the Irish National Liberation Army's position of defense and retaliation - it does not breach our no first strike policy.     In conclusion, we warn loyalist paramilitaries against further attacks against the nationalist community. If this warning is not heeded we will have no hesitation in making sure those who prey on the nationalist working class pay the ultimate price." December 27, 1997(Source: Irish Republican Socialist Committees, North America) 2In retaliation for Wright's killing, three men opened fire in front of the Glengannon Hotel on 28 December, killing 45-year-old former IRA volunteer, Séamas Dillon. The INLA retaliated with the murder of south Belfast UDA man Jim Guiney. 3In February 1996 Hugh Torney was assassinated in Lurgan. Credits: My thanks to P Urban and K Mc Gorrian for their help with this article. Photos courtesy of M Crumlish, Tony O Hara and the Irish Republican Socialist Party See Also: Bid to Honour Doctor Death Billy Wright's Father Loses Murder File Access Bid 'Border Fox' may be Next to go Free Under Peace Deal  Communards: Interview with IRSP Connolly and Republican Socialist Organisational Strategy Costello Commemoration 2003 Danny Loughran The Day I Met Airey Neave's Killers  Dr Death's Dad Unmoved by Honour  Father of Billy Wright wins legal challenge First Allegiance — A Socialist Republic (Bernadette Devlin McAliskey speaks on Seamus Costello) Following in the Footsteps of Connolly  Founding Statement of the IRSP Full Text of the Irish National Liberation Army Interview Used for the Sunday Life Article Published in February 2002 History of Republican Socialism INLA Gives Response to Camera Attacks INLA Killers Brag About Murder of Tory Leader INLA Freedom Fighters (song) In Memory of Seamus Costello Irish Republican Socialist Movement IRSP 11th Ard-Fheis - October 2000 IRSP — May Day Statements 2004 IRSP 2004: Hunger Strike Commemoration Speech The Legacy of Seamus Costello  The Man in Black Mary Reid Michael Montgomery Miriam Daly New Allegations Over INLA Killing of Airey Neave Denied Of Decommissioning and Opportunism Red Mickey Republican Socialist Joins Hunger Strike The Revolutionary Seamus Costello — Revolutionary Socialist Speech by Irsp Ard-Chomhairle Member Martin Mcmonagle at Unveiling of Memorial Plaque to Red Micky Doherty Speech at the Unveiling of a Teach na Failte Memorial to the memory of INLA Volunteer Hugh Ferguson and Comrade Hugh O  Neill by Eddie McGarrigle The Starry Plough Song Statement on the 5th Anniversary of the INLA Cease-Fire by the Leadership of the Irish National Liberation Army Straight From the Heart  This is Republican Socialism! The Thomas "Ta" Power Document A way Forward for Republicanism Why Evolution Cannot Replace Revolution Young Neil McMonagle Page last updated 30 Dec 2006 Ireland's OWN Logo by Eamann Website Design and Starry Plough Background by Míchealín Daugherty Copyright © 2006 Ireland's OWN All Rights Reserved.