It should now be abundantly clear that the upsurge in paramilitary-style attacks in Derry city represents an attempt by dissident republicans to exercise their own sinister form of control over an entire community.
The brutal targeting of individuals on the basis of rumour and innuendo is taking place against the firmly expressed wishes of church and community leaders, and has completely failed to bring an end to anti-social behaviour in the area.
With 15 people shot in the city so far this year in degrading circumstances, it is also only a matter of time before the increasing and unacceptable use of violence leads to an even more serious outcome.
It is a practice which must be brought to an end before a victim is not just left lying in an alleyway or street corner with potentially crippling injuries but actually dies.
