Cavan murder-suicide: Teacher was conscientious and obliging, says friend

Alan Hawe, 40, was a conscientious and obliging man, who was at the heart of his community, a friend and neighbour has said.

The deputy principal of a national school in Castlerahan, Cavan, Mr Hawe was found dead in his home on Monday morning, having killed his wife (Clodagh, 39) and their three children (Liam, 13, Niall, 11 and Ryan, five). The couple had been married since July 2000.

“If you probe everyone in the parish you’re not going to find someone who’ll say: ‘They were all over the shop, he was out drinking and wouldn’t be back until two in the morning.’ It just wasn’t like that,” said Larry McGinn.