British and Irish governments ‘should negotiate paramilitary disbandment in Northern Ireland’
Report finds ‘window of opportunity’ for formal process involving loyalist and republican groups The British and Irish governments should engage with paramilitary groups in Norther
By The Guardian
The British and Irish governments should begin direct talks with paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland about disbandment, a new report has recommended.
The report says there is a “window of opportunity” to create a formal process for loyalist and republican groups to move towards ending their activities. It warns that the opportunity could weaken over time.
Fleur Ravensbergen, a Dutch conflict-resolution expert, carried out a year-long assessment after being appointed by the UK and Irish governments. She held private discussions with representatives of loyalist and republican paramilitary organisations.
Her report found “sufficient merit in and support for” a formal transition process. It said the majority of those consulted were willing to consider direct engagement with the governments, subject to safeguards.
The proposed process would be overseen by an independent, time-limited transition mechanism. Its role would include providing an authorised point of contact, developing a shared framework and monitoring, verifying and reporting progress.
Ms Ravensbergen said any process should operate under three conditions: credible monitoring and verification, a robust law enforcement and criminal justice response, and no financial rewards for paramilitary groups.
She said the groups involved had not raised direct financial payments or early release from prison as conditions for moving towards disbandment.
The report said there was often a clear appetite for transition among loyalist groups. Engagement with dissident republican organisations was described as more mixed, with some more open to discussions than others.
Ms Ravensbergen said the risks linked to the continued existence of paramilitary structures, ongoing drift and unmanaged fragmentation outweighed those associated with attempting a structured process.
She recommended that the UK Government and the Government of Ireland work together to establish the transition mechanism “without delay”.
The report was published on 13 October 2026.