§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many paramilitary attacks on individuals in Northern Ireland there have been in each of the last five years. [148842]
§ Jane KennedyThe information requested is set out in the following table.
720W
Financial year By Loyalist By Republican Total (a) Number of casualties as a result of paramilitary style assaults1 1998–99 112 60 172 1999–2000 70 33 103 2000–01 89 72 161 2001–02 76 36 112 2002–03 94 50 144 (b) Number of casualties as a result of paramilitary style shootings 1998–99 40 33 73 1999–2000 53 22 75 2000–01 99 63 162 2001–02 124 66 190 2002–03 110 55 165 (c) Total number of casualties as a result of paramilitary style assaults and shootings 1998–99 152 93 245 1999–2000 123 55 178 2000–01 188 135 323 2001–02 200 102 302 2002–03 204 105 309 1Beatings
§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in prosecuting(a) loyalist and (b) republican paramilitaries who have carried out punishment beatings and shootings. [148982]
§ Jane KennedyIt is not possible to provide details of the number of persons arrested or charged for such offences as the offences which they have been charged with are defined as assault occasioning actual bodily harm or grievous bodily harm. Police statistics do not identify whether such crimes were the result of paramilitary attacks. Police investigations into these crimes are often hampered by the victims' reluctance to co-operate with them.