THE body of a man who killed his wife and children in a murder-suicide has been exhumed from their family grave.
Alan Hawe, 40, his wife Clodagh Hawe (née Coll) and their three boys, Liam, 13, Niall, 11, and Ryan, 6, were found dead at their home in Ballyjamesduff, Cavan last August.
In the early hours of this morning, Alan Hawe's body was removed from the grave he shared with his wife and sons.
An Garda Síochána confirmed they had attended the scene at St Mary's Cemetery in Castlerahan, Co. Cavan for the exhumation this morning.
It's understood Mr Hawe's remains will be brought to a crematorium in Dublin before they are returned to his family in Kilkenny. (Picture: File)It's understood Hawe's remains will be brought to a crematorium in Dublin, before being returned to his family in Kilkenny.
The bodies of the Hawe family were found on August 29, after a relative went to their home but was unable to gain entry.
The relative then raised the alarm with An Garda Síochána.
Two officers from Monaghan attended the home and made the grim discovery of the bodies of primary school teachers Alan and Clodagh Hawe in the downstairs of their home.
The bodies of the three young boys were found in upstairs bedrooms.
At the time, An Garda Síochána said there was no evidence a firearm had been used, and instead believed Clodagh and their sons had been murdered by Alan Hawe with a knife.
Garda Assistant Commission for the Northern Region, John O'Driscoll, said they were not looking for anyone else and that, "all the answers are within that house."
Alan Hawe was the assistant principal and teacher at Castlerahan National School, where Niall, Ryan and Liam had been pupils.
Clodagh Hawe was a teacher at Oristown National School, where at the time of her death staff said she was a "much loved and valued teacher" in the school.
The family were also members of the local GAA club in Castlerahan where Alan Hawe was joint treasurer.
Before their deaths, the family were last seen at a GAA match on Sunday afternoon, August 28.
