The nation reacted in shock and horror back in August of last year, when it emerged that Cavan woman Clodagh Hawe and her three sons – Liam, Niall and Ryan – had been murdered in their home by her husband, Alan.
Now, over a year since the tragedy, an inquest into the deaths found that the mum and her three sons, "were savagely and brutally killed by Alan Hawe in a premeditated and calculated manner".
Following the conclusion of the inquest today, Clodagh's mum, Mary Coll, and her sister, Jacqueline Connolly, released a statement, which was read out by solicitor Liam Keane.
"On August 29 2016 we lost our daughter and sister Clodagh and her lovely sons Liam, Niall and Ryan in the most horrific circumstances," the statement reads.
"They were savagely and brutally killed by Alan Hawe in a premeditated and calculated manner.
A horror on the grandest of scales. #HerNameWasClodagh https://t.co/Jca07vQQSa
— Carly Bailey (@CarlyBee25) December 19, 2017
Inquest into death of Clodagh Hawe and family continues today https://t.co/rT8eg06e8k pic.twitter.com/yoX8F7Z11E
— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) December 19, 2017
Addressing, the purpose of the inquest, they said: "We are aware that the inquest has a limited role in law in that its function is restricted to establishing how, where and when our loved ones died.
"However, it is clear from the evidence presented that Clodagh and the boys were killed in a sequence that ensured that the eldest and most likely to provide effective resistance were killed first, and that they were executed in a manner which rendered them unable to cry out for help."
#hernamewasclodagh https://t.co/ueJOefJ3k2
— Neil Davis (@WeeNeiller) December 18, 2017
Thanking, gardaí and "other front-line responders", Codagh's family said: "We want to thank Gardai Ratcliffe and Walsh, the first gardai at the scene, Sergeant Arthur O’Connor from Ballyjamesduff, the investigating Gardai, Sergeant John Roddy, the garda family liaison officer, the other front-line responders, our family, friends and neighbours in Virginia County Cavan, Clodagh’s friends, colleagues and the community in Oristown Co Meath where Clodagh worked.
"We are aware of all those affected by these killings, especially the friends of Liam, Niall and Ryan, and their parents."
Concluding, the family asked for privacy and a chance to "grieve with dignity."
