Meehan sided with the Provisional IRA following its split with the Official IRA in January 1970 , and by mid-1970 was a senior IRA leader in the Ardoyne area .
After his release Billy McKee convinced Meehan to rejoin the IRA .
Meehan sided with the IRA   following IRA 's split with the IRA   in January 1970 , and by mid-1970 was a senior IRA leader in the Ardoyne area .
After his release Billy McKee convinced Meehan to rejoin the IRA .