HC Deb 05 March 1979 vol 963 c574W
Mr. Wm. Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many knee-cappings have taken place in Northern Ireland in each month since 1 January 1978; and how many of these are believed to be the work of the Irish Republican Army and how many are believed to be the work of the Protestant para-military groups.

Mr. Mason

The information is not available in the form requested. The number of punishment shootings in each month since 1 January 1978 was as follows:—

1978 Month No. of punishment shootings
January 7
February 5
March 7
April 3
May 6
June 9
July 8
August 4
September 5
October 7
November 3
December 3
Total punishment shootings in 1978 67
1979 Month No. of punishment shootings
January 14
February (to 21 February) 11
Total punishment shootings so far in 1979(to 21 February) 25

Of these, about two-thirds appear to have been carried out by Republican paramilitary organisations, and the remainder by Loyalist para-military organisations.