Law, lawfare, and the Troubles.

During the conflict in Northern Ireland from 1968-1998, the United Kingdom and the Irish Republican Army used the law to further their objectives, a practice known as lawfare. Examining how the antagonists used the law to further their objectives will show how lawfare fits into information operations. The paper will explore how the Irish Republican Army successfully used the law to gain an information advantage over a more powerful enemy. Conversely, the paper will explore how the United Kingdom's misuse of the law worsened the conflict and helped turn disorder into an insurgency.