Cavan community in shock over 'murder-suicide'
The community in County Cavan is today struggling to come to terms with the death of the Hawe family in an apparent murder-suicide.
Postmortems will be carried out today on father and mother Alan and Clodagh Hawe - and their three sons Liam, Niall and Ryan.
Gardaí are today continuing their examination of the family home near Ballyjamesduff - as they try to establish the series of tragic events.
Mattie Boylan is Chairman of the Ballyjamesduff Community Council.
He says everyone in the area is in complete shock: "The community this morning are in absolute shock so they are.
"The community is completely and utterly saddened by these tragic events, it is just something you do not expect to happen in your own area.
"The family were very well respected in the local area, they were deeply involved in a number of local organisations.
"They were always there and willing to help out so this comes as a terrible shock to this community."
Alan Hawe is originally from county Kilkenny.
Cathaoirleach of the County Council Matt Doran has told KCLR 96FM that his home community of Windgap is in complete shock: “Yeah, look it is the most awful tragedy, the whole place here is in shock and stunned.
“Their immediate thoughts are with both families, but I suppose here in Windgap and in the surrounding area our thoughts are with the Hawe family who we all know very well and who are extremely respected in the area.”
