THE CHANGING PATTERN OF PARAMILITARY PUNISHMENTS IN NORTHERN-IRELAND

Paramilitary punishments in Northern Ireland traditionally involved sh ooting in the limbs with low-velocity handguns. During the recent IRA ceasefire they were replaced with beatings by clubs and similar object s. We carried out a retrospective review of patients who had suffered punishment beatings who presented to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belf ast. Patients were more likely to have fractures and more severe soft- tissue injuries. The time spent in hospital was often longer, and ther e was a greater chance of requiring operations (often multiple). Copyr ight (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.