The new weapons meant the IRA was able to step up its violence, not just in Northern Ireland but also in England and Europe. The Libyan armament was brought into play only gradually, but as it came into greater use the IRA killing rate rose from thirty-seven in 1986 to fifty-eight in 1987 and sixty-six the following year. The IRA aim was to reverse the pattern of security force casualties, for more RUC and UDR personnel, sometimes called the ‘Ulsterised’ security forces, were being killed than were regular British troops. In the years 1985 to 1987, for example, nine regular soldiers were
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