§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the number of(a) punishment beatings and (b) other terrorist activities since the first IRA ceasefire was declared. [12406]
§ Mr. IngramFrom 1 September 1994 to 12 October 1997, 685 paramilitary assaults have been recorded: 279 are attributed to loyalist groups and 406 to republican groups. In addition, there have been a further 100 punishment shooting attacks. A total of 331 shooting 833W incidents, 231 bombings and 42 deaths have been recorded during the same period and have been attributed to the security situation.
The security forces will continue to seek ways to deter and detect such crimes while the political parties work towards achieving a lasting and peaceful settlement.