Were they? Considering they came to the table and worked out a peace deal I would put them with FARC now.They were a terrorist organisation. Yes the Catholics were discriminated against in Northern Ireland but that was no excuse to carry out those terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom.
I think it's the eventual outcome that should be the deciding factor and not the process. That is the only way healing can truly occur.
Looks like everything worked out fine once the English took them seriously and both sides realized peace was worth concessions.
Would you also say the same of the Japanese? The Germans? Should wars last forever?
Doesn't seem to be working well in the middle east......