INLA group to renounce violence

The INLA has been on ceasefire for 11 years

An Irish republican paramilitary group responsible for dozens of murders during Northern Ireland's Troubles is to announce it is renouncing violence.

It is expected that the Irish National Liberation Army will say on Sunday afternoon that in future it will pursue exclusively peaceful means.

A small group which proved itself to be ruthless during the Troubles, it has been on ceasefire for 11 years.

The group is expected to decommission its weapons within months.

Established in 1975, many of its recruits were former members of the Official IRA.

They murdered Conservative Northern Ireland spokesman Airey Neave in 1979 by leaving a bomb under his car at Westminster.

The organisation was also responsible for one of Northern Ireland's worst atrocities.

In 1982 it killed 17 people in a bomb attack on the Droppin' Well pub in Ballykelly, County Londonderry.

INLA KILLINGS 1975 - 2001 42 civilians 46 UK security forces 16 republican paramilitary 7 loyalist paramilitary 2 Irish security forces Total 113 Republican figure includes 10 INLA killed in feuds *Source CAIN internet NI conflict archive

The INLA also murdered loyalist LVF leader Billy Wright at the Maze prison.

Three members of the INLA died in the jail while on hunger strike in the 1980s.

Despite being on ceasefire since 1998, it has carried out a number of shootings and engaged in a wide range of criminal activity.

The group has regularly indulged in bouts of bloody infighting.

In February this year, the INLA claimed responsibility for the murder of a drug dealer in Londonderry.

It is mainly involved in organised crime, such as extortion and robbery.

Last year police investigating the INLA and associates in County Londonderry seized controlled drugs with an estimated value of £10,000.

The INLA has been taking with intermediaries representing the British and Irish governments for several months.

The group is also believed to be engaged in talks with the head of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, General John de Chastelain about putting its weapons beyond use.