text: what was so bad about the british response to the ira in northern ireland? do not prejudge my motives for asking this question, i need info for my college work. i'm looking for information, and possibly statistics, on specific actions the uk government took against the civilian population to combat the ira. in particular events that alienated people and fueled hatred for the british amongst catholics. go a long way back into history to figure this one out - it's a knot.   shooting thirteen civilians on one day was not a good move by the british ("bloody sunday"), but lots more happened than that.  prior to the marches that ended with bloody sunday there was institutional sectarianism that the brits tolerated, including the built-in majority for protestants in government across the province.  for the true story you have to go back at least as far as cromwell, and possibly as far as robert the bruce, and you have to be completely dispassionate as you read it.