On 14th February 2023, South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) launched the publication of its new book, ‘The Wider Human Cost of the Northern Ireland Troubles’.
The Northern Ireland Office estimates that around 3,500 people were killed as a result of the Troubles, with a further 40,000 injured. Speaking at the event, SEFF Director of Services Kenny Donaldson said that these statistics are a ‘cold and insufficient way of reflecting on the gravity of what occurred over the years of […] the Troubles’. Seeking to redress this, the new publication tells the story of 26 families who have prematurely lost loved ones to the Troubles through secondary causes such as suicide, heart attacks, stillbirths, miscarriage and physical and psychological injuries. It is hoped that the publication will promote policy discussions regarding secondary victims and provision of services to support them, which the foundation sees as an area of oversight to date.
The launch featured several speakers, including contributions from Andrew Walker, Interim CEO of VSS, and Patrick Gallagher, Director of Victims and Survivors for the Executive Office.
The day concluded with the planting of a remembrance tree in the graveyard of the Holy Trinity Church of Ireland in Lisnaskea.
For more information on SEFF or to get in contact, see their website: https://seff.org.uk/
This project has been supported by the Victims and Survivors Service and the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).