THE number of republican and loyalist "punishment beatings" has almost quadrupled since the IRA ceasefire of 1994.
In a written House of Commons' reply to the Ulster Unionist Mr William Ross, the North's Security minister, Sir John Wheeler, has disclosed that up to November 25th this year a total of 276 beatings had taken place in Northern Ireland compared to 70 in the whole of 1994 and 41 the previous year.
Republicans carried out 158 assaults, and loyalists 118 assaults. In 1995 there was a total of 217 beatings, 141 carried out by republicans and 76 by loyalists.
This contrasts starkly with thee figures for the previous four years when the total number of republican and loyalist beatings were: 1994, 70; 1993, 41; 1992, 76; 1991, 62.
The figures do not include so-called punishment shootings, which were the favoured form of paramilitary punishment before the ceasefires. Nonetheless, when beatings and shootings are aggregated, the number of general punishment attacks is still well in excess of the figures preceding the ceasefires of August 1994.
This year there have been 297 punishment beatings and shootings in comparison to a total of 220 such attacks in 1995, 192 in 1994 and 126 in 1993, according to RUC statistics.
Sir John was unable to quantify the total annual cost of so-called punishment beatings, but it is estimated that the cost in medical treatment, policing and subsequent compensation for an average victim could be £9,000.
Ms Eileen Bell of the Alliance Party said she was horrified at the increase in attacks. "It is important that in the midst of debate on political change, including decommissioning, we do not forget that there are almost daily incidents of shootings and beatings being carried out by people who have set themselves up as judge, jury and torturer," she added.
Families Against Intimidation and Terror (FAIT) said politicians, clergy and community leaders must work to stop these "barbaric and callous" attacks. A spokesman accused the paramilitaries of hypocrisy, in that if they were allegedly beaten by the RUC or British army they would demand a democratic trial and compensation.
