Loyalists behind most paramilitary attacks

SINCE the start of this year, there have been 88 paramilitary attacks, almost two-thirds attributed to loyalists.

The postponement of the Northern Ireland elections could cause a renewed upsurge in sectarian violence, it was warned last night.

Figures from the Police Service of Northern Ireland show there were 54 shootings and 34 assaults up to the end of April. Loyalists carried out 32 of the shootings and 24 of the assaults, while republicans were responsible for 22 of the shootings and eight assaults.

Sinn Féin have consistently argued that while the focus has been on getting the IRA to cease activities, not enough attention has been paid to loyalist paramilitary groups.

The pattern was similar last year when, up to the end of September last year, there were 259 casualties as a result of paramilitary attacks with 169 blamed on loyalists and 90 on Republicans.

The attacks were broken down into 138 shootings - 90 by loyalists and 48 by republicans - and 121 assaults - 79 by loyalists and 42 by republicans.

The governments are worried the postponement could provoke new sectarian violence unless all sides prove politics can work. According to Government sources, there are concerns about what will happen as the marching season approaches. Loyalist paramilitary representatives claimed last night a political vacuum could now take hold.

The Ulster Political Research Group, which is linked to the Ulster Defence Association, urged Republicans not to use the coming months to heighten tensions: “Our appeal to the loyalist/unionist community would be to remain vigilant and adopt a common sense approach. All our difficulties should be sorted out through politics and not violence.”

SDLP MP EddieMcGrady stated in the House of Commons this week that paramilitaries were still highly active in his constituency of South Down, committing a number of punishment beatings and evictions in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, under the terms of the Governments’ Joint Agreement, a new independent body is to be set up to monitor and report on the ending of paramilitary activity and the programme of security normalisation.

The body will also consider claims by any party in the Northern Ireland Assembly that another party is in breach of the requirements of agreements.

The body will have four members, two appointed by the British Government, including one from Northern Ireland and one each appointed by the Irish and US Governments.