Giving a voice to those who are too often overlooked in many political histories, McKay's new work provides an alternative history of a bitter sectarian war and its aftermath - crucially written from the standpoint of the victims.

More than 3,500 people were killed during the conflict that began in the North of Ireland in 1969 and lasted for another thirty years.
Many were civilians, including children, and many were killed in vicious spirals of tit-for-tat violence. A terrible legacy of hurt remains, of suicides and broken hearts, and injuries to mind and body that have not healed.

Susan McKay's book - "Bear in Mind These Dead" - explores the difficult aftermath of the violence for families, friends and communities. By interviewing those who loved the missing and the dead, as well as some who narrowly survived, McKay gives a voice to those too often overlooked in the political histories.

She found grief and rage, as well as forgiveness.

Some long to forget, others cannot rest until they find out the truth. Some demand a measure of justice. They face formidable odds, for there are those who have everything to lose if parts of the history of the Troubles emerge from the dark.

Among the testimonies featured in the new book is that of Merle and Billy Eakin whose only daughter, Kathryn (8), died in the Claudy bombing of July 1972 in which nine people lost their lives.
Both Catholic and Protestant people died when the no-warning bombs exploded in the centre of the Co. Derry village. The IRA never admitted responsibility for the attack but, as McKay writes, "nobody doubts that it was the IRA."

'Heart torn out'

Merle Eakin recalls the difficult days and weeks that followed her only daughter's death: "No matter where you went, you thought you could see her. It was hard to watch the other kids playing. It is just something you had to learn to live with. Your heart is just torn out of you."

Also featured in the book is the story of Kathleen Gillepsie whose husband, Patsy, died in the bombing of the Coshquin cross-border army checkpoint in 1990. Mr. Gillespie was forced to drive a car loaded with explosives into the checkpoint

His wife tells McKay: "After the funeral, my family wanted to make up my bed with clean sheets, but I insisted I wanted to sleep on the sheets that Patsy lay on.

"There is a climbing rose around my bedroom window. A few weeks later I heard scratching at the window. I thought, 'It's Patsy. He wants to get in and the rose is stopping him'. I got up and went out and cut the rose to its roots.

"I had myself convinced Patsy had escaped the explosion and run away, because if they'd caught him, they'd kill him.

"Every time the phone rang, I'd think it was him. He'd be ringing to say, 'I'm in Australia, bring the wains and come.'

Living without him

"My head knew Patsy was dead but my heart didn't want him to be, so this was my fantasy, that a new life was going to open up.

"I loved Patsy so much, and I know he loved me. I could never imagine living without him."

Susan McKay's 'Bear in Mind These Dead' is a moving and poignant memorial to the dead of the Irish 'Troubles'.

Its publication comes at a time when old enemies are now in government together and the killing has all but stopped. But peace can only endure if the dead can finally be laid to rest. "Bear in Mind These Dead" is a moving and important contribution to that process.

'Bear in Mind These Dead' is published by Faber and Faber and is available from bookshops priced £14.99.