HC Deb 04 February 1988 vol 126 c675W
Mr. Hume

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate the known numbers of punishment attacks for each year since 1975, indicating if possible the nature of the attacks, the areas in which they took place and the organisations who admitted or are suspected of responsibility.

Mr. Stanley

[holding answer 29 January 1988]: The information is as follows:

Punishment shootings (see note 1) Punishment assaults (see note 2)
(Paramilitary organisations believed to be responsible)
Year Loyalist Republican Total Loyalist Republican Total
1982 22 58 80 3 6 9
1983 9 22 31 1 2 3
1984 6 20 26 1 43 44
1985 11 21 32 4 26 30
1986 24 17 41 12 29 41
1987 67 57 124 27 33 60

Note 1: Punishment shootings are primarily kneecappings.

Note 2: Punishment assaults are primarily with sticks, metal bars, breeze blocks and electric drills.