ABSTRACT
For the duration of the Northern Ireland conflict, Sinn Fein, which was closely associated with the Irish Republican Army (IRA) as both organisations were part of the republican movement, developed a rhetoric that justified, or, at least condoned, the actions of the paramilitary organisation. However, the paradigm changed once the IRA progressively left the scene, allowing for an alternative narrative to emerge. This chapter analyses how the republican narrative morphed from one where the IRA volunteers were presented as selfless and even heroic to one where they became ordinary men involved at times in inglorious and indefensible actions. It begins with an analysis of the strategies used throughout the Troubles to support and defend the IRA, irrespective of the political costs incurred. The chapter then looks at the shift in tone that the peace process generated, with pivotal moments such as the Robert McCartney murder in January 2005.
