‘They would have been shattered. In that family, anything to do with sex outside marriage was taboo. The very idea of Leo having relations with a woman would have killed his parents. They wouldn’t have understood that he was a man like any other.’

Conor thought of one of the letters in the Father Galvin file, the one claiming that, during his time in the seminary, he had been too close to a woman. A single mother, the writer had said, as though this made the transgression even harder to forgive.

He took out his notebook. He wanted to write down what Hannah was saying. Head humming, he urged himself not to get carried away. That was what he’d done before. But this was different. The files contained no mention of an affair. ‘I hope you don’t mind?’ he said, glancing at the notebook.

‘No, no. You’re grand. Now, where was I?’

‘You’d—’

‘Yes. So a few months later, in the autumn of 1981, Leo spoke to me again. He was still seeing her, he said. Opportunities for them to be together were few and far between, but something had happened – I’m not sure what – to make life slightly easier. I got the impression he was considering leaving the priesthood. No, not considering. I was convinced that was what he wanted to do. I could barely sleep for worrying. I toyed with the idea of telling Gregory, then realised I couldn’t. He wouldn’t have understood. Besides, I didn’t want to betray Leo.’ She hesitated. ‘And, then, before we ever got the chance to talk about it again …’ She tapered off.

‘He was dead,’ said Conor.

Hannah looked towards the window. The dull winter sun revealed the tears in her eyes, her pain as raw as the night she’d first heard the news. ‘That’s right.’

Conor thought of all the interviews where he’d wanted to wrong-foot people, discomfit them. This was the opposite. He needed to placate and cajole. He spoke slowly. ‘I’m sure this is difficult for you. Like I said, take your time. I’m in no hurry.’

She nodded, and a tear ran down her face.

After a minute or so, he took a deep breath. ‘Did Father Leo ever tell you who the woman was?’

‘He never gave me her name. He was careful not to. All I know is that she was from Kilmitten.’

Conor tried to hide his disappointment. ‘And after your brother-in-law was killed, did you ever—’