Irish People's Liberation Organisation was formed in 1986 by disaffected and expelled members of the Irish National Liberation Army in the aftermath of the supergrass trials .

Its main purpose was to destroy the Republican Socialist Movement from which it had split, and most of its early attacks reflected this, being more frequently against former comrades than on the security forces or the British state. In this they carried on a theme seen in different shades of the Republican Movement throughout the 20th century.

The INLA shot and killed IPLO leader Gerard Steenson in March 1986 , and following revenge killings by the IPLO, the organisations agreed to go their separate ways.

The IPLO was increasingly becoming involved in the drugs trade, especially in ecstasy, and was becoming a haven for those who fell out with the Provisional IRA, and the portents for its future were not good. A fallout over the proceeds of one transaction cost the life of Jimmy Brown, reputedly the only IPLO leader with any politics at all. A full-scale feud followed between two factions (Army Council and Belfast Brigade) which led to the 3000th killing of the Troubles. This was one feud which made no pretence of being anything other than a lethal squabble over money.

Eventually, the Provisional IRA decided enough was enough and on Saturday 31 October approximately one hundred volunteers systematically wiped the IPLO from the face of Belfast, killing Belfast Brigade leader Sammy Ward , and only sparing more on condition of their unconditional surrender, which was forthcoming from both factions within days.