Acknowledgements

This book was hard to write. It addresses distressing subject matter across several countries and centuries. I would not have been able to complete this project without the wisdom, care, and support of many people.

First, I am grateful for the support of the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council, without whom this book could not be published in a gold open access fashion as part of the ‘Reparations, Responsibility and Victimhood in Transitional Societies’ project (AH/P006965/1). This book also received financial support from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Book Publication Scheme at Dublin City University.

Second, I am grateful to all the staff at Cambridge University Press who supported the production of this book and to peer reviewers, who significantly stretched, supported, and improved this book.

Third, I am immensely grateful to a range of colleagues across the world, who have generously shared their wisdom, time, and encouragement to help bring this project to fruition. I am especially thankful to Anne-Marie McAlinden, who selflessly mentored this project at critical stages. In addition, I would like to thank colleagues and friends who read and provided feedback on chapters of this text and provided support and guidance in addressing the issues in the book. In particular, I would like to thank Sarah-Anne Buckley, Mark Coen, Vicky Conway, AnneMarie Crean, Luna Dolezal, Máiréad Enright, Fionna Fox, Gladys Ganiel, Kate Gleeson, Philip Hyland, David Kenny, Cheryl Lawther, Patricia Lundy, Gordon Lynch, Kieran McEvoy, Luke Moffett, Conall O’Fatharta, Maeve O’Rourke, Eoin O’Sullivan, Emilie Pine, Joanna McHugh Power, Kevin Power, Karen Quigley, Sinéad Ring, and Colin Smith. I am very grateful to the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University and Heads of School, Gary Murphy, Iain McMenamin, and Ken McDonagh for supporting this book and my work in this area.

I am profoundly grateful and indebted to victim-survivors on the island of Ireland and beyond who have shared their experiences with me, both those who are engaged in activism and advocacy and those who disclosed their harms and experiences to me in confidence. It is the privilege of my life to hear you, to learn from you, and to try and make some small contribution to pursuing justice with you.

I would not have been sustained in this work without the love and support of family, friends, and community. Thanks to the communities of faith at St Michael’s Parish, Dun Laoghaire, and Holy Trinity Rathmines, with especial thanks to those involved in Rubicon, for being part of this journey for a time.

Thanks to all my friends for sustaining and lightening me these last few years and to my family for their endless love and support: Mum, Dad, Enda and Daria, thank you so much for everything. Above all, my greatest thanks are to my wife Sherry and our daughter Ivy. Thank you for believing in me, for championing me, and for putting up with me, especially in the final few months of writing. I love you so much.

With the exception of a few late amendments, I intend this book to be accurate as of its submission in December 2021. All errors and omissions naturally remain the fault of the author.