§ 18. Mr. Jacques ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the current levels of punishment beatings; and what assessment he has made as to the responsibility for them. [30941]
§ Sir John WheelerSo far this year, there have been 124 so-called punishment attacks. Of these, 72 have been attributed to Republican groups and 52 to loyalist groups, including five victims who were shot.
These crimes are against all concepts of justice and human rights. There is no doubt that terrorist groups control these barbaric activities and that, if they wished to call a halt, they could do so immediately. Sinn Fein claims to have signed up to the principles set out in the report of the international body, but one of these principles calls for a commitment to try to stop "punishment" attacks and to take effective steps to prevent such actions. The House will note that to date there is no evidence of these attacks ceasing.