Leonor and her husband had talked about the possibility of an attack and the consequences many times. On 24th May 1989, ETA murdered her husband, a National Police bomb disposal expert, Manuel Jódar. One of the ways in which Leonor has rebuilt her life has been by taking on a commitment to peace in the Basque Country through a number of groups, such as AVT and initiatives like Glencree.

Felipe Juaristi, writer by profession, met the Basque folk-singer Imanol Larzabal in his youth, when they went underground in the 'anti-Franco' period. They forged a friendship that continued until Imanol died in 2004. The violence that existed in the Basque Country led Imanol (that was ideologically close to ETA) to hold a public position against terror. In the year 2000, tired of the stifling atmosphere that existed in the Basque Country, Imanol changed his life and went to live in Orihuela (Alicante), where he spent his last years.

On 22nd November 1993, ETA murdered Rosa Rodero's husband, Joseba Goikoetxea, Sergeant Major in the "ertzaina" (regional police force) who, at the time, was not on active service. Rodero spent seven years dedicated to bringing up their children. Once she managed to stabilize their lives, she fell into a deep depression.