Something that is often overlooked in such circumstances is the role played by the brave news men and women who bring us the sights and sounds of these difficult stories.
One of them is BBC Ireland correspondent Mark Simpson, for me, the best of them all.
Mark has that rare ability of being able to find the lighter side of even the most depressing of tales - a talent he has had to rely on all too often when covering stories north of the border. And today, yet again, Mark hit the bullseye when he Tweeted this:
"Loyalist devotion to the union flag as never seen before. The most British bathroom in east Belfast."
Accompanied by this:
Brilliant.
