BLOODY SUNDAY: Trauma, Pain and Politics - Brossura

Pluto Press maintains its long-term coverage of Ireland with an addition to its list that analyses the effects on families of the killing of 14 men on the streets of Derry on 30 January 1972, during a civil rights march. Family members were interviewed - 24 who were siblings of those killed, and two who had lost their fathers. The research commenced around the time of the 25th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, in 1997, and continued through to the 30th anniversary in 2002. It uncovered the long-term destructive relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder, grief and mourning that follwed these murders, for which no one has been arrested or charged. Indeed, the findings of the Widgery Tribunal, which was convened in the months immediately following Bloody Sunday to investigate the event of that day, caused a deep sense of injustice and betrayal amongst the families. They believed the truth would never come out (Spokesman)

The authors are respectively a clinical social worker who practises as a psychotherapist specialising in trauma, and a social work lecturer at Queen's specialising in mental health. However they do cover political, legal and political aspects of the event as well as the psychological repercussions. A serious and interesting book, and we are glad to see Pluto serving it up readably and for once not trying to get a quart into a pint pot (Books Ireland)

This one looks at the emotional impact on those caught up in events of the murder of thirteen protesters and on the families, friends and the local community. Both authors come from a social-work and psychotherapy background and this dominates their approach to a very worthwhile book (Books Ireland)

Patrick Hayes is a clinical social worker and has worked for 20 years in private practice as a psychotherapist. Much of his work involves the treatment of trauma related disorders.Jim Campbell is a senior lecturer at the School of Social Work, Queens University Belfast where he teaches and publishes in the area of mental health social work and the impact of the troubles on service delivery.