IRA should be treated like bin Laden: poll
The IRA should be seen in the same light as Osama bin Laden, according to a large majority of British people, a survey released today reveals.
The IRA and the prime suspect in the American airplane attacks should be described as terrorist organisations, said 83% of those polled.
Asked if Britain should stand shoulder to should against the IRA as well as Middle Eastern terrorists eight out of 10 of those questioned said yes while 14% said no, according to the study commissioned by the Daily Telegraph.
The telephone poll was conducted by Gallup amongst 1,021 adults between September 26 and October 3.
The interviewees were also asked about their views on the early release of prisoners under the 1998 Good Friday agreement.
Almost one in seven (68%) thought letting convicted terrorists out of prison was a mistake while 22% believed it was the right thing to do. One in 10 of those questioned did not know or refused to answer.
When the results were broken down by which political parties people voted for 83% of Conservative supporters thought the early release was a mistake, the figure for Labour voters was 65%.
Asked if the IRA refused to decommission weapons, should its political allies be expelled from the Executive in Northern Ireland 79% said yes.
Only 11% thought Martin McGuinness and his Sinn Fein colleagues should be allowed to remain.
