Memories run deep over there.
While eliminating him was not what we would call a political decision, there has always been a wild streak in the various para military/terrorists, with a number of what we term cowboy operations : go it alone without official sanction.
During the height of the troubles mid 70s and again the 80s, a lot of the sectarian killings the tit for tat murders were cowboy operations. carried out by Active Service Units out for revenge with no thought for the bigger picture. i.e sectarian killings did not advance the cause and were in fact had a negative impact on the movement and cause
I would bet money that this was a cowboy operation a revenge/punishment attack
And more importantly, a footnote to a lost cause. On both sides.
The only true path to victory is proof of the failure of terror, yet some habits die hard.
Let's hope it doesn't set the political process back.