NI Monitoring Commission to issue report this week

The North’s Independent Monitoring Commission is due to issue a report to the British and Irish governments later this week.

The group which monitors the paramilitary ceasefires is expected to cite a reduction in IRA attacks but to the continuation of criminal so-called "fund-raising" activities.

It is thought unlikely that the report will have any major influence on the current political stalemate.

The DUP is demanding a total, verifiable and permanent end to all IRA activity before contemplating a power-sharing deal with Sinn Féin.

Based on police statistics, the report should be able to state that IRA punishment shootings have dropped significantly, from 52 incidents in the first nine months of last year compared to 22 this year.

This compares to 135 loyalist punishment shootings and beatings.