Campaigner for victims of historical abuse, Margaret McGuckin, has spoken of her heartache at losing her brother ahead of the launch of her new memoir.
Ms McGuckin, who led the Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse group and was the public face of victims during the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry, had dedicated her new book to her brother Kevin before learning of his death on Wednesday.
She, Kevin and their other brother and sister were placed in care homes as young children, with Ms McGuckin ending up in Nazareth House in Belfast.
Her abuse at the hands of nuns in the facility is detailed in the memoir, titled I Did it for You, which was released on Wednesday.
It describes how the abuse she experienced affected her life into adulthood, leading to spells in prison, before she became a campaigner for justice.
A launch event for the book went ahead on Wednesday evening, after Ms McGuckin received the devastating news of her brother, who she says also suffered "horrific" abuse during his time in care that "stayed with him throughout his lifetime".
"The campaign for justice for him, and for others who had no voice, has been my driving force, and although an incredibly sad day for me and my family, I felt it all the more important that I stand here for him," she said ahead of the launch.
“I did everything I could to get justice for Kevin, who spent his life incarcerated in care homes, and in the end he was vindicated.
“This doesn’t take away from the life he was denied, and nothing ever will."
Ms McGuckin said Kevin's later years "brought him some happiness, as he courageously shared his story, removing the blame and shame that he had carried for years".
“I hope Kevin is in a better place now, and at peace," she added.
