THE British Human Rights Commission (HRC) yesterday called on Westminster to take immediate action to stop paramilitary assaults on children in Northern Ireland.

Twelve Northern Irish youngsters were shot and 27 assaulted in the five years from 2009 to 2014, the HRC said in a report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

The HRC asked the UNCRC to condemn the attacks and urge Westminster to “take immediate and effective action.” And it warned that the number of attacks may have been underreported due to fear of reprisals.