The Continuity IRA is currently the only republican paramilitary organisation not on ceasefire, and in a statement last month the group pledged to continue its armed campaign, calling on members of the Provisional IRA to "assist" by giving it weapons.
The organisation has carried out several attacks, including the 1997 bombing of Markethill, Co Armagh. The bomb in the predominantly Protestant town caused no injuries. The group is the only republican paramilitary grouping not to have killed anyone.
Gardai believe the splinter political party known as Republican Sinn Fein is linked to the organisation, but the party has consistently denied this. CIRA, however, has its roots in the Sinn Fein split on abstentionism in 1986, when breakaway IRA members formed the group.
The "continuity" in the group's title derives from its belief that it is the true heir of the original IRA mission and regards the Dail as an illegal assembly.
In last month's statement, the organisation also reiterated it had not joined the INLA or the "Real IRA" to form a dissident umbrella organisation. It is understood that over the past year some members have defected to the "Real IRA", the larger dissident group responsible for the Omagh atrocity. CIRA remains independent but appears to have only a few dozen members.
The group has several leading figures in the south Donegal-north Leitrim area. It mounted a number of bomb attacks into Northern Ireland from the Leitrim-Cavan area. In July 1996 it carried out a bomb attack on the Killyhevlin Hotel, outside Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh. It also attacked the River Club disco in Enniskillen in January 1998. There were no injuries in either attack.
A former leader of the organisation is serving a 10-year sentence for possessing a bomb. Another leading figure is thought to be a Cork man who may be living in the midlands.
CIRA was also believed to be responsible for a gun attack on Lisnaskea RUC station, Co Fermanagh, a mortar-bomb attack on the Grosvenor Road RUC station in the centre of Belfast, and a failed car-bomb attack on Lisburn RUC station, all in May 1998.
A year ago it carried out a drive-by shooting on Woodbourne RUC station in west Belfast. No one was injured, but the three young men who carried out the attack were arrested a short distance from the station.
In December 1998 CIRA claimed it had aborted a planned bomb attack on the Apprentice Boys Lundy Day parade because of the danger to civilians. However, police sources insisted the device was a hoax. The organisation also claimed it carried out attacks on RUC vehicles, a claim denied by police.
On December 28th, a caller claiming to be from the CIRA issued a bomb warning which led to the evacuation of Kempton Park racecourse in England. No recognised code word was used, however, and nothing was found after an extensive search.