The IRA old days would not have taken on the Irish gangs ether once in 1984 Dublin gangs took on the IRA in a row over gold the IRA backed off. now the gangs have more men and better fire power then the IRA the gangs have killed more people then IRA some 230-50 since year 2000. old IRA would never had taken on the gangs in the first place its a fight they could never win and that is for sure the old IRA did not take on armed group like OIRA for long as they hit back when they came under attack from PIRA in 1975 so like the Criminal Action Force who is well armed have money men and have killed people the PIRA would not have got into a fight with them no way.