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	More than 500 children were abused by paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland between 1990 and 2013, according to a report published today.</p>
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	The report was written by Professor Liam Kennedy from Queen&#39;s University in Belfast.</p>
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	The report reviewed official statistics from the PSNI on &quot;punishment&quot; beatings and shootings meted out following investigations by the paramilitaries themselves.</p>
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	Prof Kennedy said more than 500 children were punished with improvised weapons, including iron bars, cudgels, hammers, and hurleys.</p>
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	The report found 94 children were shot by loyalists, while 73 were shot by republicans.</p>
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	It found that 166 were beaten by loyalists, while republicans were responsible for 178 beatings.</p>
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	Prof Kennedy has urged TDs to support a Fianna F&aacute;il proposal to go before the D&aacute;il this week to establish a cross-border commission to investigate the sexual abuse of children by paramilitaries.</p>
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	Fianna F&aacute;il sources told RT&Eacute; News the party accepts Prof Kennedy&#39;s call for cases of physical and emotional abuse to be examined by such a commission as well, but in a separate strand of its work.</p>
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	<a href="http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1110/658203-abuse/">http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1110/658203-abuse/</a></p>
