Hawe’s devastated parents struggle to cope since ‘death’s dark door opened’

THE family of Alan Hawe have broken their silence on the impact of the horrific day that saw their son murder his wife and three children before taking his own life.

In a statement circulated after the jury at the inquests into their deaths found that Alan had killed himself after stabbing his wife Clodagh and the three boys to death, his parents Stephen and Olive Hawe said what had emerged at Cavan Coroner’s Court “does not make the pain and loss any easier”.

“In August last year, we received news no family should ever have to hear. In one night we lost three beautiful grandchildren, a beloved daughter-in-law and our son Alan,” the statement read.

“Death’s dark door opened and we have struggled over the last 16 months to comprehend how this came to pass.

“We have had some light shed upon that darkness with the insight gained from thorough examination of the report of Prof Harry Kennedy and his opinion that Alan suffered from severe depressive illness. It does not make the pain and loss any easier for us.”

Alan (40), originally from Co Kilkenny, met Clodagh when they were in teacher training college together in the 1990s. It was in February 1996, and their relationship blossomed quickly.

They got engaged in 1999, and married in 2000.

“We sincerely thank the coroner, Dr Flanagan, for the extraordinary work she and her staff have put into this inquest,” the statement continued.

“We pay particular tribute to the members of An Garda Síochána under the leadership of Supt Leo McGinn and Det Insp James O’Leary.”

They had a special and specific mention for the first gardaí at the scene on the morning of August 29 last year.

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Garda first responders, Alan Ratcliffe and Aisling Walsh, and the paramedics who attended the tragic scene.

“We thank our Garda family liaison officers Gda Lisa Stephens and Sgt Ted Hughes who have helped us through very dark days, and we wish to thank Michael Lanigan, our solicitor, for his work and assistance throughout the last year.

“We thank all those who have taken the time in the last year to contact us with messages of support and prayer from all parts of the country.

“They have brought us great solace,” the statement concluded.

‘In one night last year, we lost three beautiful grandchildren, a daughter-in-law and our son’