They killed many civilians, let's not underestimate that, but by and large the IRA tactic was not to deliberately kill civilians - although many civilians, I hasten to add, were killed by the IRA.

Taylor had made comments on the BBC breakfast programme which were felt to be upsetting by survivors of the IRA and families of their victims as they felt their losses were trivialised. He was to explain to the Belfast Telegraph that this was in the context of a broad conparison between Islamic extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda and the IRA; also acepting and noting exceptions such as Tullyvallen Orange Hall and the Whitecross massacre.