THE SDLP and Families Against Intimidation and Terror (FAIT) have condemned the recent outbreak of so called punishment beatings in west Belfast which left three people hospitalised with severe arm and leg injuries.
A 20 year old man suffered multiple fractures to his arms and legs after he was attacked by a four man gang carrying a crow bar and heavy hammers at a flat at Broom Park, Twinbrook, on Monday night.
During the attack, a woman was ordered into a bedroom as the gang went about its assault. A 17 year old youth who was in the house was also assaulted.
Also on Monday night, another gang of eight or more masked men forced their way into a house at Creeslough Park where they attacked an 18 year old man.
Two of the gang held his mother inside while the others dragged him out to a rear patio where he was badly beaten.
At midday on Monday, in another incident, an 18 year old, man was found gagged with adhesive tape and tied to a washing line pole in the back garden of a house at Springhill Rise in west Belfast.
He had been severely beaten.
FAIT described the attacks, which are being blamed on republicans, as acts of vicious thuggery. "These premeditated attacks continue even while the majority of people in society come out in their tens of thousands to demonstrate against these men of violence," the organisation said in a statement.
An SDLP councillor, Ms Patricia Lewsley, said anyone with influence should try and have such attacks stopped. "The people of Ireland last weekend made their voices heard in a very loud appeal for peace," she said.
"It is time that voice was heeded and this means an end to all violence on our streets, including these punishment beatings."
