Video
Video Created: October 2011
Mother Speaks Out Against ‘Punishment Attacks’
Three years ago, Nicholas Munster - then 15 years of age, was the subject of a brutal attack in Poleglass.
He was held down by his attackers and shot in the knee with a ball bearing gun. His attackers claimed to be from the 'Real IRA'. The shot remains lodged in the bone in his left knee. His mother Anna has now spoken out against so-called 'punishment attacks'.
Her son, who has learning difficulties, was apparently a victim of 'mistaken identity' - but she talks about how the incident affected her son and her entire family. "After three years - he is starting to get back onto his feet a wee bit - trying to cope", she says.
"He was very much a social animal… playing in the street, football, everybody was his mate. Nicholas was diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Defecit Hyperactivity Disorder) when he was only six… he would have been very unaware of danger. When this incident happened …he had thought when the gunmen jumped out, that they were dressed up… He didn't connect that he was in a dangerous situation."
WIMPS is campaigning to end these brutal attacks - as many of the victims are young people, and this is a huge human rights issue.
According to Police statistics, there were 272 attacks between 2008 and 2010 and almost half of these have been attacks against young people under the age of 24. The rate of attacks has been rising, and they have been happening mostly in west and north Belfast, and south-east Antrim.
Disturbingly, the Police 'clearance rate' for these crimes is only 4 percent. This means the number of cases that have been investigated - not the number of convictions. We want to encourage young people to speak out on this issue, and we want to hear from anyone who has been affected. The film here is a short version. If you go to Faircop.org you can watch a fuller 12 minute interview with Anna.
Please comment and share, and if you want to see this brutality stop, join our campaign.
