Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Clodagh family in plea for inquiry into Hawe murders
Victim’s mum and sister meet with Justice Minister
RELATIVES of murder victim Clodagh Hawe met with the Justice Minister and urged him to order a full inquiry into her brutal death and that of her three sons.
Charlie Flanagan described his meeting with her mother Mary Coll and sister Jacqueline Connolly as “moving” and “constructive”.
He also announced he is to establish independent research into family homicides.
Clodagh, 39, was brutally murdered by her evil husband Alan Hawe on August 29, 2016, in Virginia, Co Cavan.
The psycho also violently killed their three sons Liam, 13, Niall, 11, and six-year-old Ryan.
Hawe – who was a cross dresser and a porn addict – hung himself afterwards.
Minister Flanagan said: “The meeting was very moving and also very constructive.
“Mary and Jacqueline outlined their concerns and the horrific ordeal they have endured through the loss of their beloved family members.
“They showed immense dignity and courage in speaking to me about their concerns.”
He added he will arrange a meeting for Clodagh’s family with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
Just four weeks ago they were officially refused a legal request for copies of the Garda files from the investigation into the murders.
Mr Flanagan said: “One of the main requests of Mary and Jacqueline was they would meet the Garda Commissioner.
“I was happy to be able to tell them I have arranged for that to happen at an early date.
“The family also presented me with an initial submission for consideration on a range of legislative and other measures to prevent and address matters concerning the unlawful deaths of family members. I am putting arrangements in place at an early date for a study to be conducted on such cases.
“It will be carried out to establish if there is a need for special protocols, legislative or other changes for cases like this. “The person conducting this research will meet with the family and other similarly affected families, as well as State agencies, to see what is possible and what would help on a systemic basis.
“The person appointed will be entirely free to recommend any course of action which she or he considers appropriate.
Jacqueline told RTE Radio 1: “We’d like to thank Minister Flanagan for arranging such a prompt meeting with my mum and I. I’d also like to thank the media for the coverage around Clodagh, Liam, Niall and Ryan and the respect they’ve been shown.
“We have received overwhelming support, immense support.
“It has just been unreal and we thank everybody for coming behind us, the country for coming behind us and words can’t express how thankful we are.”
Mary and Jacqueline believe the murders were meticulously planned by Hawe and it is wrong to suggest they were a violent, murderous act caused by depression.
DUBLIN YESTERDAY
They appeared on Claire Byrne Live on Monday and discussed their unanswered questions about the deaths and how they are desperate for more information.
Mary and Jacqueline also stressed how important it is to protect other women who may be vulnerable and in danger.
During that programme Clodagh’s mum said of her daughter: “She couldn’t save herself, she couldn’t save her three children.
“So it’s up to us to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”