Paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland are subjecting young people to coercion, threats and sexual exploitation, a Westminster committee has heard.
The region’s Children’s Commissioner Koulla Yiasouma described both loyalist and dissident republican paramilitaries using young people “to do their dirty work”, such as drug dealing and civil disobedience.
Giving evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on the effect of paramilitaries on society, Ms Yiasouma criticised efforts by government to address the issue as not joined up, and said police have work to do to gain confidence among some young people from deprived backgrounds.
