‘What he’s trying to tell you,’ said Tess, with an exaggerated sigh, ‘is that he’s been promoted. He’s going to become a superintendent.’

‘I’m kind of surprised,’ said Conor. ‘A couple of months ago, it was put to me that applying for promotion would do no harm. So, I said to myself, “Ah, sure why not?” I didn’t really expect to succeed. But when it comes down to it, it’s hard to reject a man with two bullet wounds.’

He was unusually inarticulate, and Tom could only assume that he was embarrassed by their contrasting fortunes.

In the months since Helen Minogue’s court appearance, there had been more upheaval for Tess and Conor’s family. The O’Gradys had gone on the rampage, telling anyone willing to listen that their father had been framed. One evening in Pilkington’s Lounge, tensions had reached boiling point. Seánie, who’d been drinking for a large part of the day, started bellowing at Flan and Ginny. He claimed that Flan had always known about Helen’s involvement in Father Galvin’s death but had hushed it up because she was the doctor’s wife.

‘My mother went to the grave with that hanging over her,’ he shouted.

Flan attempted to reason with him, as did several others. Seánie had passed the stage of reason. ‘My father was the most decent man in Ireland,’ he insisted. ‘He never did a bad turn to anyone.’

Ginny didn’t say anything, but made a noise suggesting she didn’t agree with this portrayal of Noel O’Grady.

Seánie reared up in front of her. ‘What the fuck would you know about my father?’ he roared.

And so she told him.