Paramilitary groups

Paramilitary groups frequently use threats, physical violence, and paramilitary-style attacks to maintain control and enforce their authority within communities.

These groups manipulate individuals, particularly children and young people who may experience vulnerability due to exploitation, through fear, debt, and grooming tactics. This control can be psychological, emotional, and physical. This is explored in The Influence of Paramilitarism on the Recognition of Child Sexual Exploitation in Young Males by Dr Jacqui Montgomery-Devlin.

Paramilitary organisations are often involved in serious criminal offences, including drug trafficking, extortion, smuggling, and illegal enforcement or “community policing”.

"These older ones would just talk to me when I was hanging about, asking how things were going, offering me a smoke. Then one day they asked me to hold on to a package for them - said it was no big deal, just for a few hours. I knew what it was about, but they made it sound like I had to do it. They knew where I lived, the way they said it wasn't even threatening really, but you could tell what they meant. After that first time, they kept coming back. Always 'just one more thing' - drop this off here, pick that up there, keep your mouth shut. I felt sick every time I saw them coming. My ma knew something was up, but I couldn't tell her. How do you explain that you're in with people like that? The worst part was feeling totally trapped, like there was no way out. If I went to the police, I'd be a tout and that would be it for me and my family. We'd be out or battered or shot. If I kept doing what they wanted, I was OK."

The presence of paramilitaries contributes to a culture of fear, mistrust, and silence. Communities affected by paramilitarism may experience economic stagnation, reduced access to services, and long-term trauma.

Children and young people may witness or be subjected to paramilitary violence, including attacks or threats against themselves or their families. Research from the Northern Ireland Executive Programme for Tackling Paramilitary Activity and Organised Crime highlights the persistence of these tactics post-conflict (DOJ NI). According to the NI Executive36, 25% of victims of paramilitary-style attacks were under the age of 19.

Some children and young people are coerced into criminal activity and made to e.g., distribute drugs, money launder, or participate in public disorder. Others may be coerced into becoming members of paramilitary groups under the guise of protection or belonging. These activities are documented in the Practitioner Awareness of Child Criminal Exploitation leaflet by SBNI.

The fear of reprisals and the pressure to remain silent can lead to isolation, disengagement from education, and long-term mental health issues.

Many young people fear speaking out due to potential retaliation, stigma, or lack of trust in authorities. This can prevent children and young people from accessing support or being identified as victims. The Experiencing Paramilitarism report by Queen’s University Belfast outlines these effects in detail.