The roots of informal justice in Northern Ireland have a long and deep history. This article examined the nature of informal justice during the period of “the Troubles” in 1968 beginning with an historical overview. Alternative forms of justice emerged within both the Republican and Loyalist working-class communities in Northern Ireland. The informal justice system operated outside the formal state system and was undertaken by paramilitaries and included threats, warnings, beatings, shootings, and executions. This punishment existed for three primary reasons: (1) the absence of a legitimate or adequate policing service; (2) rising levels of petty crime and antisocial behavior; and (3) the perceived failure of the formal criminal justice system. Based on the history of informal justice and the reasons for its development in Northern Ireland, it is likely to continue. Notes