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IRA announcement meets with skepticism from some

As political leaders heralded the Irish Republican Army`s announcement of an end to its long and bloody campaign of paramilitary violence, most ordinary people here were not expecting life to feel any different.

The sensational headlines splashed across every morning newspaper Friday were not reflected in the mood of people who have lived in Northern Ireland in the years since the modern IRA was founded in 1969.

Catherine McCartney, one of six women who led an international campaign to highlight IRA violence after its members killed her brother last January, said she was surprised to hear what she called "euphoric" reactions to the statement from Prime Ministers Tony Blair of Britain and Bertie Ahern of Ireland.

"I thought, `Have they all taken amnesia pills or something?"` she said. "It`s not historic. It`s only historic if it`s put into practice."

Anthony McIntyre, a former IRA member who writes frequently about Northern Irish politics, said "It`s the same organization as it was a week ago, a month ago, a year ago. It will carry on with IRA discipline and intimidating people who oppose it. It can still prevent people from getting into clubs and from getting jobs."