A tug of love between two families over the remains of a tragic Black Watch soldier has ended.
Afghanistan war hero Mark Connolly will finally be laid to rest in Forfar, three years after his death in a German bar fight.
Mr Connolly died from a freak punch in a row with a friend at the base where they were stationed in 2011.
The 24-year-old Fifer’s death has led to what was described as a “chasm” during the final stages of a Forfar civil court proof between his widow and mother that saw a sheriff decide where the soldier is to be buried.
Mr Connolly’s widow, Stacy, claimed she shared a tearful conversation before her husband was due to return to Afghanistan in which he said he wanted to be laid beside her.
Mrs Connolly’s late brother is buried in Forfar and since she intends to eventually be beside him, she asked the court to determine that Mark should also be interred there.
The soldier’s mother, Linda McComiskie, who is the executor of his estate, argued that her son should be buried in MacDuff Cemetery at East Wemyss, near the familyhome in Methil and alongside his late grandfather in accordance with what she has also claimed was Mark’s previously expressed wish.
In her judgement, Sheriff Valerie Johnstone viewed advice given to Mr Connolly by the Army as “erroneous”.
Mrs Connolly insisted her husband named her as executor in his will after their wedding in February 2009, but changed it after a senior officer wrongly told him this was not permitted.
The sheriff further criticised Mrs McComiskie over using her position as her son’s executor to best Mrs Connolly.
She stated: “In this case but for the erroneous advice given to the deceased there would have been no impediment to the funeral proceeding at the appropriate time three years ago.
“The defender used the position she just happened by chance to find herself in to exercise the power she believed that gave her.
“She did not do so in my opinion due to her perceived concern about the wishes of her late son, or the wishes of other members of her family, but because of her attitude towards her daughter-in-law.”