Vol. 544 No. 5
43 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of punishment attacks believed to have been carried out in Northern Ireland in 2001; the response the Government has received from political parties associated with paramilitary groups to appeals that such attacks should end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29235/01]
The Government position on this issue has been clear and consistent: there can be no place in a civilised society for so-called "punishment" beatings or shootings. These are deplorable acts of violence and are unacceptable. I take this opportunity to once again call on those parties who may have influence with paramilitary organisations to help bring these attacks to an immediate end.
Since the beginning of the year, 298 punishment attacks have been recorded; 191 have been attributed to loyalist paramilitaries and 107 have been attributed to republican paramilitaries. The latest figures available indicate that there has been a marked decrease in the number of attacks attributed to republicans in recent months and none has been recorded since the end of October.
