Susan Gately
Susan Gately
The tragic death of an entire family in Co. Cavan is an “unbearable” cross to bear for their families and the community according to the local bishop.
Alan Hawe, his wife Clodagh and their three children Liam (13), Niall (11) and Ryan (six) were found dead in their house in Ballyjamesduff on Monday.
Local people were said to be numbed and traumatised by the tragedy involving the family who played a central role in the local parish.
They were “great parishioners” according to Bishop Leo O’Reilly. “The death of a child has to be the most difficult cross for any parent to bear but three children and their parents – it’s just unbearable,” he added.
“We’ve heard of situations like this before but they were always somewhere else,” he said.
“But now it’s on our own doorstep and there are no answers and we simply don’t understand.”
Both parents were primary school teachers: Mr Hawe was Vice Principal at Castlerahan National School which his two younger sons, Niall and Ryan attended. His wife Clodagh taught at Oristown National School, Co. Meath.
Difficult time
Bishop O’Reilly, said the hearts of all went out to those touched by the tragedy, “first and foremost to the families of the parents, their friends, the school friends of the children”.
Since early Monday morning, priests and people had been ringing him, he said, saying they were offering prayers and Masses for the people touched by the tragedy.
“It is a very difficult time.” Usually the return to school signalled “a time of new beginnings and of new hope” but for this tragedy to happen “just the day before the children themselves were to go back to school” was going to have a “huge impact on the school community”, he added.
Assistance
Bishop O’Reilly hoped that in time, with the assistance of the community, those affected would “begin to cope with this and they will find a way to hope”.
Hope is very important in this situation, he said, and that “we have our faith – that death is not the end and that even the greatest tragedy, God can use in some way that we don’t understand at all, and bring good out of it.”
According to local priest, Fr Felim Kelly, the Hawe family were very involved in their community and committed to the parish.
They were involved in Castlerahan GAA Club and had been seen the day before their deaths, at a club football match, reportedly in good spirits.