Hawe family remains lie in repose at funeral home

Members of a grief-stricken community in Co Cavan have been gathering to pay their respects following the deaths of the five Hawe family members in a murder suicide.

Mourners filed into the funeral home in Cavan Town on Friday where their remains have been laying in repose.

The sadness and grief was palpable as friends, neighbours and colleagues came to pay their respects and comfort each other.

The community is still in shock after Monday morning’s gruesome discovery at the Hawe family home in Barconey near Ballyjamesduff

Gardaí were called by a relative who found a note on the back door of the house with instructions not to come in and to call the guards.

Inside officers found the bodies of Clodagh Hawe and her husband Alan.

When they went upstairs they discovered the remains of their three sons six-year-old Ryan, 13-year-old Liam and 11-year-old Niall.

Alan Hawe, vice-principal at the local Castlerahan National School had killed his wife and children before taking his own life.

Clodagh, who was in her 30s, was a primary school teacher at Oristown National School in Co Meath.

There has been an outpouring of support for the woman with some reports suggesting that she has become invisible in the coverage of this murder suicide.

Gardaí have confirmed that Clodagh and her three sons died violent deaths and they were not looking for anyone else in connection with their murders.

They continue to examine a number of weapons that were found in the house.

Another note left in an envelope in the house by Alan Hawe outlined the reasons why he did what he did.

For those left behind, the heartache and disbelief was still etched on their faces as they came together on Friday.

All five members of the Hawe family will be laid to rest together on Saturday after a funeral service in nearby Castlerahan.