Coroner records verdicts of 'unlawful killing' in deaths of Clodagh Coll and her three boys

Verdicts of 'unlawful killing' have just been returned at the inquest into the deaths of Clodagh Hawe (39) and her three sons Liam, Niall and Ryan at the Cavan Coroner's Court. They were killed by husband and father Alan Hawe (40) at their Castlerahan home in September 2015.

Also in line with the recommendation of the Coroner Dr Mary Flanagan, the jury ruled Alan Hawe's death a suicide.

Kilkenny-based Michael Lanigan, solicitor for parents of Alan Hawe, Stephen and Olive, accepted that the recommended verdict.

Dr Flanagan informed the inquest that she did not intend to provide contents of the suicide notes openly but did provide they jury with copies to assist in their determination of verdicts.

She also asked the jury to make any ryders which could lead to recommendations avoiding similar type tragic incidents occurring in future.

The first witness on day two of the inquests was David McConnell, Psychotherapist, whom Mr Hawe attended for a total of 10 sessions between March 22, 2016 and June 21, 2016.

He was informed during the initial sessions of how Mr Hawe had “got a little bit down” in the intervening period between graduating from college and taking up employment, but this rectified once he began working.

The impression Mr McConnell got during their sessions, which considered a “humanistic” approach toward counsellor-client listening, was that Mr Hawe placed a regard on being seen as a “good father” and of good standing in the community.

On their third session together, Mr Hawe was questioned with regard to suicidal ideation, to which he replied in the negative.

But it was on the last session which took place on June 21 2016 that an agitated Mr Hawe told his psychotherapist: “people think of me as a pillar of the community...” before pausing to add: “... if only they knew.”

When asked what he meant, Mr Hawe referred to matters discussed at previous therapy sessions. “He had a fear of being seen as someone less than perfect,” Mr McConnell told the inquest of his interactions with Mr Hawe.

The session ended with Mr Hawe being assigned coping mechanisms to deal with stress over the impending summer period.

Mr McConnell would receive a text from Mr Hawe soon after informing him that “no further sessions would be required".

The Psychotherapist told the inquest: “I had not further contact with Alan.”

The next witness was Dr Paula McKevitt from Oldcastle, the Hawe family's GP for five years.

She told the court that while dealing with a complaint about an enlarged toenail, Mr Hawe expressed concerns over conflict at work and issues with sleep.

Mr Hawe attended also Dr McKevitt on the afternoon of June 21, 2016.

For his toe ailment, she prescribed anti-fungal medication and raised concern over previous notes which detailed how Mr Hawe had used bleach in an attempt to treat is foot concerns. His bloods were taken, after which Mr Hawe admitted also feeling “run down”, suffering from a sore throat and mouth ulcers. He also spoke to Dr McKevitt about sleep issues, for which she prescribed sleeping tablets.

Mr Hawe claimed to the doctor that the lack of sleep derived from “conflict" in his workplace where he felt “isolated”. Other than that he spoke to Dr McKevitt about the upcoming family holiday to Italy.

Separately, she even met Clodagh after the trip, which was described as a “good holiday”.

When asked by Dr McKevitt if Mr Hawe’s wife Clodagh was aware of his concerns, he told his GP “she knew about it”.

Dr McKevitt said Mr Hawe did not show any sign of “delusional ideation” during his visit. “His behaviour seemed normal,” she said, adding: “Nothing in the consultation raised concern.”

Dr McKevitt informed the inquest that she was not aware of any “history of depression” in Mr Hawe’s past, nor was she aware he was attending a psychotherapist.

“He did not disclose any of his deep thoughts to me,” said Dr McKevitt, who revealed statistics that as many as one in ten presentations to general practitioners refer with psychiatric problems. “It’s quite common.”

At the behest of County Coroner Dr Mary Flanagan, Prof. Harry Kennedy, consultant forensic psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital conducted a psychiatric post-mortem based on documentary evidence including Mr Hawe’s counselling notes, medical interaction, and contents of the suicide notes.

Based on that, it was his opinion that Mr Hawe had progressed from a long standing depressive illness to a severe depressive episode with psychotic symptoms.

Describing Mr Hawe as “troubled”, based on the bleaching of his foot, Prof Kennedy was of the opinion that Mr Hawe was bothered by “unfounded somatic anxieties” relating to bodily worries, and considering the evidence these had developed into “severe and pervasive preoccupations”.

Hindsight, Prof Kenndy said provided a “very unfair advantage”, but he stated that there were “signs”, which informed his professional opinion contained within the documentary evidence examined.

The “psychotic symptoms” he added were not anchored in reality and could well have impaired Mr Hawe’s ability to make “rational” judgement. One such “entirely unrealistic” catastrophisation of events was Mr Hawe’s ongoing anxiety in relation to work.

He accepted the difficulty in identifying such issues, stating: “People had bits of information, but no one was in a position to have them all. I think that is a major point.”

Cross-examined by Liam Keane from Dunshaughlin-based Keane and Partners, representing Clodadh's mother, Mrs Mary Coll, daughter Jacqueline Connolly and Clodagh’s family, Prof Kennedy was asked if was he surprised Dr McKevitt did not know about Mr Hawe’s counselling sessions.

“It’s a common enough experience, especially in tragic circumstances such as this.”

He was also asked by Mr Keane, who was constrained in his questioning within the remit of the inquest, if a person suffering a “particular difficulty” would consider their next action to lead to the “destruction of their family”.

“I believe his judgement was severely impaired. That’s what I believe happened in this case.”

Clodagh’s mother, and grandmother to the three boys, Mary Coll, who gave evidence to the inquest one Day One asked if Prof Kennedy had ever given consideration to speaking with the families or relatives of the Hawe family.

“I knew [Alan] for 20-years. I didn’t know him, but I knew him.”

Det Inspt James O’Leary was the final witness to read his deposition to the inquest, at which time Dr Flanagan praised the role of all members of the force who handled the investigation into the Hawe family deaths.