The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) today announced an end to its 30-year campaign of republican violence in Northern Ireland.

The organisation responsible for some of the most infamous attacks of the Troubles used a graveside oration outside Dublin to confirm that its “armed struggle" is over.

But there was uncertainty over whether the group which killed more than 100 people during the conflict in Northern Ireland was prepared to decommission its illegal arsenal of weapons. The statement read to supporters failed to promise a disposal of arms.

A representative of the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP), Martin McMonagle, told the gathering: “The Republican Socialist Movement has been informed by the INLA that following a process of serious debate, consultation and analysis, it has concluded that the armed struggle is over.

“The objective of a 32-county socialist republic will be best achieved exclusively through political, peaceful means.”

He added that the grouping continued to oppose the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 as a platform for achieving Irish unity, but would restrict its opposition to the accord to purely peaceful means.

However, the IRSP spokesman added later that there was no announcement on decommissioning to coincide with the statement.

He said that the IRSP believed that INLA violence was at an end, but on the question of decommissioning added: “That would be a matter for the INLA.”

Confirmation that the splinter group, responsible for attacks such as the murder of the Conservative MP Airey Neave in 1979, is to formally end its campaign came as Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, said that violent republicanism had no support among Irish-Americans.

Ms Clinton left Britain today to hold a series of engagements in Dublin, before travelling to Belfast for talks with political leaders at Stormont as they attempt to reach an historic deal that will lead to republicans and unionists sharing responsibility for running Northern Ireland’s justice system.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Why Witherspoon is highlighting domestic violence
• No, MP does not stand for Mostly Plastered
• Don’t bottle out of your champagne moment