Family of Clodagh Hawe demand Garda review into 2016 Ballyjamesduff murders be made public
The family of Clodagh Hawe, 39, and her three sons Liam, 13, Niall, 11, and Ryan, 6, who were murdered by their father Alan Hawe in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, in August 2016, are demanding that the findings of the 2019 Garda Review into the initial investigation be made public. Clodagh's sister Jacqueline Connolly has appealed to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to release the findings, which were critical of how the original investigation was carried out.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports28 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAlan Hawe murdered his three sons by slitting their throats as they lay asleep in August 2016. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHawe killed his wife Clodagh using a hatchet, knife, and his bare hands in the family sitting room. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHawe put his knee on Liam's chest and cut through his windpipe to render him silent. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNiall had defensive wounds on his hands. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatClodagh Hawe, 39, and her sons Liam, 13, Niall, 11, and Ryan, 6, were murdered by Alan Hawe at their home. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAlan Hawe took his own life after murdering his wife and children. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe murders took place at the family home in County Cavan. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe murders took place at the family home in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe killings occurred in August 2016. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe Garda Review was carried out in 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeA state pathologist said Hawe possibly targeted the children's Adam's apples with stabs to prevent their screams. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationJacqueline Connolly is urging authorities to release findings from the Serious Crime Review Team's secondary probe. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherClodagh's sister Jacqueline Connolly released her memoir 'Deadly Silence' in May 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAlan Hawe was a vice principal at Castlerahan National School. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherClodagh worked at Oristown National School in County Meath. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHawe frequented Russian dating sites, cross-dressed in his wife's clothes, and had a pornography addiction. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHawe used secret email accounts to view pornographic material including illegal images of children. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHawe's suicide letter expressed being 'caught red-handed' and dread over going back to school. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherTherapy notes revealed the teacher masturbated somewhere he shouldn't have, possibly school. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe school's legal team stated there was no proof Hawe watched pornography during work hours. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherJacqueline Connolly appealed to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to release the findings as a matter of urgency. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe first investigation failed to follow up on information including mishandling of CCTV. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA secret phone, laptops and other digital devices were destroyed before the review took place. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSome findings from the Garda Review have been shared with the family but none have been made public. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherJacqueline Connolly has launched a book called Deadly Silence about the family murders. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAlan Hawe had been planning to murder his family for at least a year in advance. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAlan Hawe was initially buried with his wife and children and his body was later exhumed after objections from her family. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe review was very critical of how the initial investigation was carried out. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 18 May2025Family of mum and kids murdered by husband demand Garda review be made public
Reports that Clodagh's sister Jacqueline Connolly is demanding the 2019 Garda Review findings be published, that the review was critical of the initial investigation, that digital evidence including a secret phone and laptops was destroyed before the review, and that Connolly has launched a book called 'Deadly Silence' about the case.
victim, Clodagh Hawe, 39, female, irish (judged from name)Clodagh Hawevictim, 13, male, irish (judged from name)victim, 11, male, irish (judged from name)victim, 6, male, irish (judged from name)suspect, Alan Hawe, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alan Hawe - 13 May2025Irish dad killed his 3 kids to 'stop them screaming' after secret was exposed
Jacqueline Connolly's memoir 'Deadly Silence' and RTE Radio One interview provide new details on Alan Hawe's motives (pornography addiction, cross-dressing, Russian dating sites, fear of exposure) and describe the specific manner in which each victim was killed, including the state pathologist's finding about Adam's apple targeting.