Is it true the British government planted agents in the IRA who then committed violent acts to make the IRA look bad?

Peter Gore Seer,

A Not So Bold Topic, Paddy Ashdown Was Inthere Doing Naugty And Nasty Things To Humans, He Now Works With Parliament, The IRA Freedom fighters, Cant Beet The Jews Who Own The Emerald Isle. R.I.P.

Yes and no

The IRA didn't need help looking bad

Sure, the CIA, and FBI are also known for what is called "Black Ops" (aka Agents provocateurs)

I remember (c 1976) an anecdote, about a Motorcycle Club, turned out that everybody except the founder/president were undercover agents from one agency or another.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJv8QVRT09s

the Briitish provided the missile that killed 50 kids on a school bus in Yemen and still do if you can do that you can do anything