... does it take to hold a country to ransom?

About 1,500 if the Irish Republic's justice minister is anything to go by.

Michael McDowell claims there are 1,500 members 'actively involved' in the Provisional IRA and that dissident republican terrorist groups (in practical terms, the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA) couldn't have more than 150 members each.

He said he beleives 'internal discussions', on whether to maintain the threat of violence against the population of Northern Ireland, is at an 'advanced stage'. He also warned that any IRA statement on disarming must be credible and that words alone aren't enough to convince the community, and especially "the community that has most to fear from them," that they are prepared to pursue their goal peacefully.

Apparnetly there is evidence that some paramilitaries are turning to what's become known satircally as "Ordinary Decent Crime" to fund their lifestyles. Today's just full of shock revelations, isn't it?