§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing the number of punishment cases involving paramilitaries in Northern Ireland for which criminal injuries compensation has been paid and the amounts in each of the years 1979, 1984 and 1987.
Mr. StewartThe information that is readily available relates only to criminal injury claims for punishment shootings in the form of kneecapping and is as follows. The annual figure represents those cases settled within that calendar period and not those initiated during the year. I understand that five cases were initiated in 1987 of which four have recently been resolved and the other is currently under appeal.
Kneecapping cases Year Cases awarded compensation Compensation paid £
1979 7 16,200 1984 3 85,500