Two books that deal with the events of Bloody Sunday have shared the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Literary Prize, worth £5,000.
Julieann Campbell’s account of the campaign waged by the families of the victims to get justice and Douglas Murray’s account of the proceedings of the Saville Inquiry were awarded £2,500 each. Campbell’s book was a “fascinating account of a grassroots movement” while Murray’s book made the Saville inquiry accessible for a general audience.
The Ewart-Biggs prize is named after the late British ambassador who was killed by an IRA bomb in 1976.
Speaking for the judges, Prof Roy Foster said that both books “demonstrate the necessity to investigate and face up to the unwelcome facts behind received versions of the truth, which is as essential in Northern Ireland as it has ever been”.
A special award of £2,500 was given to journalist and writer Peter Taylor for his work covering Northern Ireland over many years.
The prize was presented by Olivia O’Leary at a ceremony at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.