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Irish Examiner
07-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
'Release garda findings to aid domestic violence services', Clodagh Hawe's sister tells commissioner
Jacqueline Connolly, whose sister and three nephews were murdered by Alan Hawe, has written to the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, asking for a review into the garda investigation to be published. Hawe murdered his wife Clodagh and sons Liam, 13; Niall, 11; and six-year-old Ryan at their home in Co Cavan in 2016, before taking his own life. The investigation into the murders was found to be incomplete and flawed in a number of respects and a review was ordered after Jacqueline and her mother went public on the matter. In her memoir Deadly Silence, Ms Connolly revealed the family was given sight of the completed review — which ran to 800 pages — but the family was not furnished with a copy. Ms Connolly believes it should be published in order to help prevent any similar tragedy from occurring in the future. 'I am appealing to you to release the findings in an appropriate way so that the timelines, behaviours, and patterns of family annihilators are given to the public, for those in abusive and controlling relationships, and to aid domestic violence services in expanding and advancing their policies,' she wrote to commissioner Drew Harris. "This, in turn, will align with the prevention and protection pillars of the Government's third national strategy on domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence" Speaking on The Mick Clifford Podcast, Ms Connolly said she met with justice minister Jim O'Callaghan in March to ask for his assistance in having the review published — but nothing has been done. Warning signs She said that the learnings to be taken from the review are vital in trying to ensure that a similar tragedy does not occur again. 'I've received hundreds of messages since the release of Deadly Silence, and some have been from women who read my book and said: 'You've shown me warning signs, it's really raised red flags with me, I'm in the process of quietly leaving my partner.' If 'Deadly Silence' can do that, imagine the power impact that the truth in the findings [of the review] would reveal and the lives that could be saved Her call for publication of the review is supported by Women's Aid, the support organisation for the victims of domestic violence. Sarah Benson, the chief executive of Women's Aid, told the Irish Examiner that since the publication of Ms Connolly's book, she had been contacted by women for whom elements of the story had resonated. 'Some who contacted me said they felt lucky that they may have had a near miss in terms of the risks they have been subjected to in a relationship,' Ms Benson said. 'It could be extremely beneficial and in the public interest to have reports like this shared in order to do what Jacqueline is saying, to help understand where there may have been missed opportunities, and to better bolster community response to domestic abuse and the risks associated with it.' Key flaws A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána told the Irish Examiner that in general 'reviews conducted by the Garda Serious Crime Team are not published for operational reasons'. The spokesperson also referred to a statement from Mr Harris on the case dating from 2019. In her book, Ms Connolly wrote that the review uncovered three key flaws with the original investigation. These were the mishandling of CCTV evidence, the interviewing of witnesses without the proper expertise, and digital evidence that simply was not collected. She said that accommodation could be made for redactions where the gardaí thought necessary but that there are huge learnings to be taken from the detail of how Alan Hawe conducted himself and where red flags could be raised in the future. 'It's frustrating and angering that I, as Clodagh's sister and the boys' aunt, am here again fighting for justice? Why should that have to happen? Why should the onus be on me to fight to do what's right for women and children?' she said. - If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services. Women's Aid national helpline is 1800 341 900
Irish Examiner
06-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
The Mick Clifford Podcast: Clodagh Hawe's sister on why investigation into murder suicide should be published
In 2016 Alan Hawe murdered his wife Clodagh and their three children. The subsequent garda investigation was found to be deficient in a number of respects. Clodagh's sister Jacqueline and their mother Mary pushed for a proper investigation. That was conducted but never published. Jacqueline, who wrote her memoir Deadly Silence on the case, believes it should be published in order to prevent any similar tragedies occurring in the future. Jacqueline is this week's guest on the podcast.
Irish Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Family of mum and kids murdered by husband demand Garda review be made public
The devastated family of a mother and three children murdered by her husband want the Garda review into the case to be made public. The killing of Clodagh Hawe, 39, and her sons Liam, 13, Niall, 11, and six-year-old Ryan, by evil Alan Hawe before he took his own life, at their home in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, shocked the nation. Now Clodagh's sister Jacqueline Connolly is demanding the Garda review into the August 2016 killings be put on the public record so other families can see the tell tale signs of such danger. She appealed to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to release the findings as a matter of urgency so that services and people around the country are made fully aware of what coercive control is and what "family annihilators" look like. Speaking this week in an interview on her local radio station Northern Sound, Jacqueline said: "One in three women are being coercively controlled and the Garda Commissioner needs to publish the findings so that these services and the country are aware of what family annihilators look like. Four-and-a-half years was spent trying to find answers as to why Alan Hawe murdered our family. "The general public are entitled after their tax money being spent on a review, to see those findings. "They need to be armed with this information, it is vital information, to protect and prevent domestic violence, for murder suicides and coercive control and all that comes with it." Jacqueline has launched a new book, Deadly Silence, about the horrific family murders and tells of their long fight for justice. The Garda Review was carried out in 2019 after complaints by the family during media interviews about the initial investigation. Ms Connolly told how the first investigation failed to follow up on information including "mishandling" CCTV and other evidence such as a secret phone Hawe used as well as laptops and other digital devices which were all destroyed before the review took place. Some of the findings from the Garda Review have been shared with the family but none have been made public. Ms Connolly said: "We should never have to battle for eight years and two investigations. There should never have been failings. "The onus should never have been on me and Mam to fight for justice. "But no, that meeting in 2019 was very much 'nothing to see here' when in fact there was plenty and the review was very critical of how the initial investigation was carried out. "The 'why' wasn't accounted for in the first investigation. "We had to fight, we were made to go public, if we didn't, where would we be now." She told how her brother-in law, a school vice-principal, was obsessed about what other people thought of him even in death. She added: "It was all about perception to him. Holier than thou. He wanted people to believe he was still a good man, like by killing Clodagh and the boys he was somehow doing them a favour, sparing them his downfall." Ms Connolly said it was later discovered Hawe had a porn addiction. He shared email accounts with his wife but operated an unknown alias using the fake name John Smithers. Nobody was able to access the account or discover what it was subscribing to. They also learned the killer dad had been planning to murder his family for at least a year in advance. She added: "There were behaviours, patterns leading up. He'd done the research, stuff online. That wasn't shown in the first investigation. He moved the furniture knowing Clodagh's back would be turned when it came to it. "He was a wolf in sheep's clothing who fooled us all. Looking back, he and Clodagh's relationship was not normal." Alan was initially buried with his wife and children and his body later exhumed after objections from her family.
The Journal
18-05-2025
- The Journal
Gardaí must learn from shortfalls in Hawe case investigation, head of policing body says
THE HEAD OF the State's policing oversight body has said that gardaí must learn from questions raised about the investigation into the murder suicide of a Cavan family. Dr Elaine Byrne made the comments as part of an interview with The Journal this week about her role with the Policing and Community Safety Authority (PCSA) which she chairs. The body has replaced the Policing Authority and Garda Inspectorate. In August 2016 Alan Hawe, a vice-principal, killed himself after murdering his 39-year-old wife Clodagh and their sons, Liam, 13, Niall, 11, and Ryan, six, at their home near Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan. Now Clodagh's sister Jacqueline Connolly has said a review of the Clodagh Hawe case should be published to provide a greater awareness of the behaviours of 'family annihilators'. She has written a memoir called Deadly Silence to raise awareness of what happened. She claimed that the deaths were not initially investigated thoroughly by gardaí and she wants this approach changed. She has said that there was not adequate collection of CCTV and digital evidence as well as follow up interviews with 20 key witnesses. Byrne said that the PCSA has been focused intensely on a review of homicide investigations – which has been ongoing for a period of time. 'The Commissioner did initiate a homicide review where it showed that there were lapses in the investigation of a number of homicides. Advertisement 'But that is a constant focus for us, and it's on our agenda, and we will be asking the Commissioner [Drew Harris] more questions,' she said. Dr Elaine Byrne of the Policing and Community Safety Authority. Niall O'Connor / The Journal Niall O'Connor / The Journal / The Journal Byrne paid tribute to Connolly for documenting what happened to the Hawe family. 'I think that Clodagh's sister Jaqueline, she's done a public service in allowing the public inside that very tragic event, moment by moment, and I think society will learn something from it, and the guards must learn something from it as well. 'I have read everything, all those extracts of her book, and it is something that we will be bringing those issues that she's outlined are issues broadly match our concerns in general, around the homicide review that the Commissioner initiated, and one that we will have a constant focus on,' she added. Jacqueline Connolly, whose has written about the murder of her sister and her family by her husband Alan Hawe. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Last week, in an interview on RTE radio, Connolly said that a second investigation carried out by the serious crime review team, authorised by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in 2019, highlighted what was missed in the first investigation. This included CCTV that had not been examined, digital evidence that was overlooked, and 20 key witnesses who needed to be re-interviewed using different techniques. Connolly said she has been told gardaí in training will be advised to gather evidence in murder-suicides as though it is a case that will be prosecuted, but she said she wants that rolled out to all rural garda stations because officers were not prepared to 'find Clodagh and the boys like that'. She called on Harris to release the findings of the serious crime review, for which Connolly has seen a summary, because she said it was important that the recommendations are seen by domestic violence institutions. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish dad killed his 3 kids to 'stop them screaming' after secret was exposed
Nine years ago, a "respected" school vice-principal committed a horrific murder-suicide, taking the lives of his wife and children. The victim's sister has now provided haunting insights into his motives. Alan Hawe, aged 40, brutally murdered his sons Liam, 13, Niall, 11, and Ryan, 6, by slitting their throats as they lay asleep in August 2016. Before this, he savagely killed his wife, Clodagh, using a hatchet, knife, and his bare hands in their family sitting room at their County Cavan home in Ireland. Clodagh's sister, Jacqueline Connolly, recently released her memoir 'Deadly Silence. ' In it, she discusses Hawe's pornography addiction and her belief that the threat of this secret being uncovered contributed significantly to his unspeakable act. Opening up on RTE Radio One, she expressed: "I suppose it would be social death if anybody found out that he had that addiction." "I couldn't believe it when I was told. You know, to me, Alan was boring. He was socially inept. Holier than thou. He was very much involved in the church and the community, the GAA (Irish football) club," reports the Mirror. "And the go-to man if anybody wanted anything done, the vice principal of the school. He was very much respected. And so if this was to come out, it was going to bring on a lot of shame." Connolly shared her conviction that this indeed drove him to commit such monstrous deeds, saying: "Absolutely. The Serious Crime Review Team have revealed the evidence behind all of that. You've placed yourself as a brilliant father, husband and colleague. The shame of what he was looking at, to him, was the end of the world." Alan Hawe, known as a devout Catholic and vice principal at Castlerahan National School, was seen as an upstanding member of the community. His wife Clodagh worked at Oristown National School in County Meath, where she was praised as a "wonderful, dedicated and caring teacher for pupils". To the public, Hawe appeared to be a "pillar of the community", but his private life was marred by dark secrets. He frequented Russian dating sites, cross-dressed in his wife's clothes, and had an addiction to pornography. He even used secret email accounts to view pornographic material, including illegal images of children. In what became Ireland's most horrific case of murder-suicide, Clodagh was casually drinking tea and looking up family holidays when Hawe savagely took her life. Jacqueline, Clodagh's sister, recounted the harrowing details: "He came in behind her and he hit her in the head with the axe and he stabbed her in the back and she put up her hand to defend herself and he basically nearly sawed her hand off. "He killed her like he hated her. He didn't need to use two weapons, he killed her with such brutality it was evil. He then sat down and he wrote the letter because he had left the axe and knife on the floor. He took up a new knife and went upstairs." After composing the suicide note, Hawe grabbed another knife and ascended the stairs to slit the throats of his sleeping sons. He left them in their beds before returning downstairs to pen a second note. Hawe penned a chilling note saying: "All the good stuff we did I was really into it. But I think there was some sort of psychosis that made me enjoy that yet in the next moment I was the complete opposite. I'm sorry for how I murdered them all but I simply had no other way." Jacqueline gave testimony about the grizzly end her nephews met, stating courageously: "We know he put his knee on Liam's chest and cut through his windpipe to render him silent. Niall was sharing a room with Liam so Niall probably wouldn't have woken up because Liam couldn't scream out but he had defensive wounds on his hands." She continued, describing the cruel acts: "He did the same to Niall and then he went to Ryan's room. Ryan was the smallest of the three of them. He was very slight and thin for his age but during the inquest we were told that [Hawe] used a sawing action on Ryan and then he just threw a duvet cover over all of them and left the knife that he used on Ryan's pillow. That is evil. That is not depression. That is force brutality and it is control." In further discussions, it emerged from a state pathologist that Hawe possibly targeted the children's Adam's apples with stabs to prevent their screams. In the harrowing suicide letter, he expressed being "caught red-handed" and he expressed dread over going back to school as "it was all going to blow up". Reflecting on the content of his letter, Jacqueline confessed she revisited his words recently and deduced: "I don't see it any way other than he enjoyed what he did." He had been seeking help for his pornography addiction, and therapy notes uncovered the shocking revelation that the teacher "masturbated somewhere he shouldn't have - possibly school". Following his tragic end, the school's legal team stated there was no proof he engaged in watching pornography during work hours. Nonetheless, it is thought his decision to brutally murder his family was driven by a terror of his dark secrets being exposed. In Jacqueline's heart-wrenching memoir, she expresses her conviction that the gardai failed to conduct a proper investigation into their deaths. She is now urging the authorities to release the insights from a secondary probe undertaken by the Serious Crime Review Team.
