How did Bloody Sunday help the IRA?

The IRA benefited from Bloody Sunday in a number of ways. Most importantly, it provided the organisation with a powerful propaganda tool that it could use to mobilise Irish nationalists and gain support for its campaign of violence. The images of unarmed civilians being gunned down by British soldiers shocked the world and led to widespread condemnation of the British government. This made it much more difficult for the British government to continue using military force to suppress the IRA and helped to turn international opinion in favour of Irish independence.

In addition, Bloody Sunday also damaged the morale of the British Army and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). Many soldiers and police officers felt that they had been used as political pawns and that they were being asked to put their lives on the line for a cause that they did not believe in. This led to a decline in recruitment and an increase in resignations from the security forces. This made it more difficult for the British government to maintain its presence in Northern Ireland and gave the IRA an advantage in its armed struggle.

Finally, Bloody Sunday also radicalised many young Irish nationalists who had previously been moderate in their views. The brutality of the British Army's actions on that day convinced many people that armed violence was the only way to achieve Irish independence. This led to a significant increase in recruitment to the IRA in the aftermath of Bloody Sunday.