In some parts of Ireland, the IRA was seen as an alternative police force, and you could call them if your house was burgled or joy-riders took your car. All through the nineties it was common for the IRA to give ‘punishment beatings’ – usually breaking the knees with a baseball bat – for offences such as dealing drugs or stealing cars. But I didn’t know that the IRA had covered up for men in their ranks who hurt children and women.
