The widow of PSNI constable Stephen Carroll and the mother of the man convicted of killing him hugged each other at the end of an appeal hearing on the controversial case. eileen McConville and Kate Carroll embraced after the proceedings, which lasted almost eight days, came to a close in Belfast yesterday.
The dramatic courthouse encounter between the women was not their first after Mrs Carroll was seen to comfort Mrs McConville, who was visibly distressed, at the end of a hotly contested hearing on Wednesday evening.
Mrs McConville's son Brendan McConville (41) is serving a 25-year sentence after he was convicted of Constable Carroll's murder last year.
John Paul Wootton (22) was also convicted of his murder. he was sentenced to a minimum of 14 years behind bars.
Constable Carroll was shot dead by a Continuity IRA sniper as he answered an emergency call at Lismore Avenue in Craigavon, Co Armagh, in March 2009.
The McConville and Wootton families have attended every day of the appeal. Mrs Carroll was present in court for much of the proceedings.
Mrs McConville said the policeman's wife approached her when she became upset after Wednesday's hearing and revealed they have promised to pray for each other in the weeks ahead. "I was a bit upset and I was crying and she came over and put her arm around me," Mrs McConville said. "She said 'I know how you feel' and I said 'I am sorry for the loss of your husband'."
Mrs McConville said that during the friendly conversation she explained her belief that her son was innocent. "We wanted to speak to her and she wanted to do it and it was very moving. She has got her sorrows," she said.
After another brief conversation yesterday morning the women spoke again as the hearing came to a close in the afternoon.
As the two women stood side by side outside the courtroom Mrs Carroll said her meeting with Mrs McConville and her husband Willie had been of benefit. "I have no argument with Eileen and Eileen has none with me," she said.
Mrs Carroll said she had "empathy" for Mrs McConville. "My heart goes out to her and her husband and I have a son the same age," she said. "I wish her all the very best."
Mrs Carroll said she regretted the circumstances of their meeting. "We never really talked much about what happened and we can't really but it does not stop us being humane," she said. "I have a human heart and so has she and I wish there were more like us. "I am just sorry to be in this position. It is not her fault and it's not mine."