Given that guns are not legal (and assault weapons are very uncommon) in the UK, where did the IRA get their weapons from during the troubles?

by angrydwarfuk

I've seen images of IRA soldiers during the troubles sporting rifles, and given how uncommon they are and how difficult I'd assume they'd be to get hold of, it left me wondering how they managed to get so many and where they came from.

....asking for a friend /s

rubixqube

Whilst you are waiting for an answer to your question please have a look at this answer from u/Eirebmac to a very similar question