Clodagh Hawe and her kids, Liam, Niall and Ryan were killed in Ireland’s largest murder-suicide – the victim’s sister has now published a memoir called Deadly Silence
Alan Hawe was an “evil” man who massacred his own family (Image: PA)
A “respected” school vice principal massacred his wife and kids in a murder-suicide nine years ago – and the victim’s sister has offered harrowing insight into why he did it.
Alan Hawe, 40, cut the throats of his children, Liam, 13, Niall, 11, and Ryan, six, as they slept in their beds in August 2016. This was after murdering his wife, Clodagh, with a hatchet, knife and his bare hands downstairs in the family sitting room in County Cavan, Ireland.
Jacqueline Connolly, Clodagh’s sister, published a memoir this month called Deadly Silence, and has spoken about Hawe’s porn addiction. She believes the exposure of this secret was a key reason for his sickening crime.
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“I suppose it would be social death if anybody found out that he had that addiction,” she told RTE Radio One.
“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.
Alan and Clodagh Hawe and their kids, Liam, Niall and Ryan (Image: PA)
“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.”
As for whether this influenced his abhorrent actions, she added: “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.”
The Hawe family
Alan Hawe, described as a devout Catholic, worked in the local Castlerahan National School as a vice principal. Clodagh also worked in education for Oristown National School in County Meath where she was described as a “wonderful, dedicated and caring teacher for pupils”.
From the outside, supposed “pillar of the community” Hawe looked like a model citizen, but behind closed doors he scanned Russian dating sites, secretly dressed in his wife’s underwear and was addicted to watching porn. He used hidden email accounts to watch porn and this included indecent images of children.
Clodagh Hawe and her kids on holiday just four weeks before they were murdered (Image: Photopress Belfast)
The Mirror