Punishment attacks on children in North soar since peace agreement

SHOOTINGS and beatings of children by paramilitary organisations in the North have increased almost fivefold since the Good Friday Agreement supposedly put the peace process on a firm footing.

At least one child is shot every three weeks in the North in so-called “punishment” attacks by loyalist and republican gangs while beatings take place with at least the same regularity.

The youngest victim known to date was a 13-year-old shot last year by loyalists although many beatings and expulsions are believed to go unreported.