they were every bit as bad - some might say worse - but they were never as competant as the IRA.
armed republicanism has lost: british policeman walk the streets enforcing british law, the people elect politicians to sit in a british parliament and pay taxes to and recieve services from the british government. SF legally accepts northern ireland as part of the united kingdom and accepts that democracy, not force, will decide the future direction of northern ireland. the republic of ireland accepts british sovereignty over northern ireland and acts as a guarantor of the current status quo.
the citizens of northern ireland have the same legal, employment and civil rights regardless of their religion or heritage, they had that 30 years ago. the IRA has fought and killed for 30 years - 80 if you like - to achieve nothing. infact they have been counter-productive, had the IRA not existed the day of irish union could be around the corner - especially given irelands new found wealth - but now you could sooner persuade a man to climb into a burning car than you could persuade unionism to join the republic.
choccy arlare. my backside.
Agree with most of your post, but the Shankill Butchers did not work with the approval of the UVF and were, if stories are to be believed, killed with the help of the UVF.