The Northern Ireland Human Rights Bureau has called on the Minister of Health, Ms Bairbre de Brun, to condemn a paramilitary-style punishment attack in Portadown, Co Armagh, on Monday. A 27-year-old man required hospital treatment after being beaten by three men, one armed with a gun. The bureau said the assault was carried out by loyalist paramilitaries. It said attacks by paramilitaries supposed to be on ceasefire had cost the Health Service u more than £15 million.
"This money could have been used to maintain essential services across Northern Ireland that have now been withdrawn."
