There's the rub, someone who sympathises with the IRA may see them as the freedom fighters trying to reunite Ireland, as Mandelas freedom fighters/terrorists fought to crush white rule and apartheid. The fact you have a counter stance doesn't make him wrong, just not right for your beliefs.
I appreciate that, just trying to get over the point that there are two sides to every story - just depends on your stance and how outraged you want to be about it.
No I don't think you should applaud him, and you clearly have your reasons - however, your insistence on dragging up these sort of thread is frankly tiresome.
Paul McCartney wrote a song Give Ireland Back to the Irish, maybe you would like to start on him next...?