Mother's plea to 'IRA beating gang'

The mother of a man shot 13 times in paramilitary-style attacks has appealed to the IRA to leave her son alone.

Bernadette Fegan from west Belfast admits her son Steven is a drug addict, but she said the attacks would not help improve his behaviour.

Mr Fegan was shot six times in the hands, ankles and elbows last Thursday.

Please give me the chance to see can somebody help me to help Steven

Bernadette Fegan

It is the latest in a series of attacks on the 20-year-old from New Barnsley.

His mother said she was not aware of all the activities he had been involved in.

Appeal

Mrs Fegan told BBC Radio Ulster: "Please give me the chance to see can somebody help me to help Steven."

She said "shooting wasn't helping him and beating wasn't helping him".

She added: "Give me time, please give me time."

Mrs Fegan said she was a republican and that the people who were carrying out the attacks would know her.

She said her son was recovering in the Royal Victoria Hospital following the latest attack.