13:57

The number of deaths in Northern Ireland linked to paramilitary activity has increased year on year, a new report has found.

The Independent Reporting Commission, which was set up to monitor progress on the peace process in the region, also says that Brexit could fuel further violence.

“The real issue about the dangers for peace in Northern Ireland, therefore, is not that Brexit itself could be the direct cause of a renewal of violence, but rather that it has the potential to add fuel to the fire of continued paramilitarism,” it said in its second annual report.

It said that while the level of paramilitary violence over the last 10 years had reduced, it was “disturbing” to see three paramilitary-linked deaths in the year to 20 September including the murder of journalist Lyra McKee.

It found that loyalist paramilitaries were responsible for more assaults and republican paramilitaries were involved in more shootings.

There are 88 organised crime groups in Northern Ireland, 22 of which have paramilitary links, it says.