September 11th effected the security situation in Ireland immediately in that it forced the Provisional Republican movement into reverse on the issue of decommissioning. However, the implications of the new euro currency, and UK anti-terrorism legislation that is being rushed through in the aftermath of the attacks on the United States, remain to be seen.
The idea behind the post-September 11th "War on International Terrorism" is that the world will be a more difficult place for terrorist groups to hide and plan attacks. The British government effectively re-introduced internment, though indicating it was not its intention to use this tool against "domestic" terrorist groups.
The emphasis in the European and US anti-terrorism campaigns is to stop groups linking o exchange ideas and funds, particularly where anti-Western terrorism is involved. The FARC group in Colombia and ETA in pain fit into these categories; and it was shown in August that the IRA, despite its ceasefire, has continued to work closely with both groups.
The IRA continued to kill people during the year, specifically criminal figures involved in the drugs trade. It was also heavily involved in smuggling and is believed to be directing young members to carry out armed robberies to gain operational experience.
The Real IRA, the group responsible for the killing of 29 people and near-term unborn twins in 1998, continued to be the focus of attention of police forces on both sides of the Border. Intelligence reports suggested the group was trying to kill a member or members of the new police force in Northern Ireland. They carried out several attacks in Northern Ireland, as well as some bombings in Britain, and displayed increasing technical sophistication in their bomb-making attacks.
The largest of the loyalist groups, the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) closed down its political wing this autumn and was heavily involved in the assaults on Catholics areas in north Belfast. The UDA was also responsible for several murders during the year, some sectarian.
The signs are that former political terrorists are continuing to move into organized crime and particularly drugs or other contraband smuggling. Former well-known terrorist figures on both side of the political fence are doing very well for themselves, several having set up legitimate front companies for their activities. One former leading republican is known to have a home in the Caribbean. Many Northern Ireland republicans now have holiday homes in Donegal. A leading loyalist now lives in a huge modern bungalow on the Antrim Plateau overlooking Belfast Lough complete with an elaborate security system and, reputedly, Dobermans with their vocal cords cut so intruders can't hear them approaching.
The Garda, too, experienced its share of controversy. Allegations continue to emerge about alleged corruption and illegal activity by members of the force in Donegal.
The gardai found themselves in confrontation with the Dail select committee inquiring into the May 2000 shooting of John Carthy, in Abbeylara, Co Longford by members of the armed Emergence Response Unit (ERU).
Generally, both police forces face less controversy in 2002.