During a riot, prompted by a police crackdown on paramilitary groups, McKee was shot by a member of the New IRA, a Republican paramilitary organisation. The highest profile sectarian violence in recent times was the April 2019 death of Northern Ireland journalist Lyra McKee. Since 1998, the major paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland – both Loyalist and Republican – have rarely launched attacks, with most bloody incidents caused by dissident groups who never supported the peace accord. While these groups have not yet become violent, there are fears they could.
But the infamous “Brexit” agreement – the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union – has created uncertainty and stoked sectarian tensions in Northern Ireland.Ī new trade border between Ireland and the UK, prompted by Brexit, has angered a coalition of Loyalist paramilitary groups, who in March 2021 told the UK Government they no longer supported the 1998 peace deal due. Police statistics show that, over the past decade, the number of annual incidents of such violence has almost halved. Sectarian violence has plummeted in Northern Ireland in recent years. Image credit: Ronan O'Connell Recent violent incidents in Northern Ireland That accord marked the end of The Troubles, and included a raft of measures to improve relations between the Republic of Ireland and the UK. After years of efforts to broker a peace deal, in 1998 the UK and the Republic of Ireland signed the Good Friday Agreement. Known as ‘The Troubles’, this era was marred by politically motivated bombings and by deadly clashes between Catholic “Republicans”, who sought for Ireland to be reunited, and Protestant “Loyalists” who wanted Northern Ireland to remain in the UK.ĭuring this turbulent period, thousands of people were killed in sectarian violence between Catholics and Protestants, which was concentrated in Northern Ireland. That separation of Ireland has long been a volatile issue, never more so than between the late 1960s and late 1990s. The Republic of Ireland operates as an independent nation, while Northern Ireland is still controlled by the UK.
How to negotiate the Northern Ireland border.Recent violent incidents in Northern Ireland.
Granted, it remains a complicated place, due to a combustible mix of religion and politics, but during my recent years of living on and off in the Republic of Ireland, near the border with Northern Ireland, I’ve found that latter country to be a safe, welcoming destination for tourists who behave courteously. Many people have outdated perceptions of beautiful Northern Ireland, a country colored by grim memories of regular bombings up until the 1990s. Shares Facebook Twitter Photo © Getty Images / Peter Unger Please note that not all content is translated or available to residents of all countries. By telling us your country of residence we are able to provide you with the most relevant travel insurance information.