U.S. Adds the Real IRA to List of Sanctioned Terrorist Groups

On May 16, 2001, the U.S. Department of State added the Real Irish Republic Army to its official list of terrorist organization, citing the group for a campaign of violence in Northern Ireland and Britain in recent years. Designation as a foreign terrorist organization has several important adverse consequences. It prohibits the Real I.R.A. from raising money in the U.S., freezes any bank holdings it has in the U.S., and restricts entry into the U.S. for Real I.R.A. leaders and members. While the Real I.R.A. and its sympathizers can try to circumvent these provisions, they will encounter criminal sanctions if they are caught. Hence, it raises the stakes dramatically…[more]