I do not know.

The police have conducted several high profile anti-terrorist operations over the last 12 months in N Ireland (NI News) so it is as likely as ever that 'every contact leaves a trace' as we used to say.

I would surmise that there is a combination of Irish Republican 'diehards' with previous PIRA experience and capabilities who provide the core, and a whole host of young bloods coming in. Looking at how PIRA operated and the Active Service Unit (ASU) cell structure, then depending on who split from whom and who is doing what now, will reflect on what expertise is available to the new terrorist groupings and how competent they are. And of course they are learning all the time.