Those exhuming the body have erected a covering in the graveyard for privacy.

Body of Alan Hawe being exhumed this morning

The body of Alan Hawe, the man who murdered his wife and children at their Castlerahan home late last August before taking his own life, is being exhumed this morning (scroll down for video).

Alan, his wife Clodagh (nee Coll) and their three sons Liam (14), Niall (11) and Ryan (6) were all buried together in the local cemetery after the shocking incident.

The murder suicide devastated the local community and rocked the whole country in the week that the children and their parents, both teachers, were due to go back to school.

The body of Alan Hawe, the Kilkenny-native, who was vice-principal at the local primary school, is being exhumed now in the presence of members of An Garda Siochána and an Environmental Health Officer from Cavan County Council.

Those involved in the exhumation arrived at the grave site located beside St Mary's Church in Castlerahan in the early hours of this morning, at around 5:30am. They erected a cover for privacy and work began shortly thereafter.

The exhumation is taking place after, it’s understood a licence was granted last March and, once completed, Mr Hawe’s remains must be reburied or cremated within 48 hours of being exhumed.

See short video here:

http://youtu.be/nw7pp1Ln9Fg

The bodies of the Hawes were discovered at their home in the quiet townland of Barconey near Ballyjamesduff on August 29 last year. Since then, it’s understood there has been growing pressure to have Mr Hawe’s body exhumed and removed from its burial place in the locality.

 

The inquest into the family’s death, meanwhile, is expected to take place later this year. Gardaí continue to treat the investigation as one of murder suicide, and have said previously that they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the deaths.

Psychologists from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) were subsequently assigned to the primary schools with whom the family was linked to support and advise teachers in assisting students and staff dealing with the tragedy.

The family of Clodagh (nee Coll), who herself was a primary school teacher in Oristown, Co Meath, meanwhile have managed to raise tens of thousands of euros for national domestic violence support charity, Women’s Aid.

 

Furthermore, they recently set up the ‘Lighthouse’ campaign, aimed at developing a refuge service in the region in honour of Clodagh and her three boys. Fundraising for that cause is being led by volunteers taking part in the upcoming Women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin. For more information, visit- https://www.facebook.com/Cavan-Lighthouse-272512986506295/.

For anyone affected by any of the issues discussed in this article, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, or for domestic violence services, Tearmann on 047-72311.