Ireland worried US labelling Real IRA as terrorists would help recruitment

Real IRA graffiti in Londonderry (Paul Faith/PA) - (PA Archive)

Irish officials were worried that a US decision to designate the Real IRA (RIRA) as a foreign terrorist organisation might help recruitment for the paramilitary group.

Just years after the signing of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, the US was planning to add the RIRA to the list of foreign terrorist organisations.