*Nods* The IRA did have flamethrowers..and actually...on an episode of Most Deadliest Warrior on Spike TV, they had an episode where the IRA fought the Russian Spetnaz. Was a very good episode..but the IRA was no match for the awesome power of the Spetnaz.
YouTube- Deadliest Warrior- IRA Vs SPETNAZ
There is a link to the match between Spetnaz and IRA