The Hawe family grave in the graveyard in Castlerahan, Co. Cavan

The Hawe family can "finally rest in peace", a family member said as the man who killed his wife and three children before taking his own life has been exhumed from the family grave.

Alan Hawe (40) killed his wife Clodagh (39) and children Liam (14), Niall (11) and Ryan (6) in a shocking murder-suicide at their Cavan home last August.

He then left a note on the back door telling whoever called to the house to call the Gardai, and killed himself inside the house.

The family were all buried together side by side in the same plot in the small graveyard in St Mary’s Church in the town of Castlerahan.

Expand Close The Hawe family grave in the graveyard in Castlerahan, Co. Cavan / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Hawe family grave in the graveyard in Castlerahan, Co. Cavan

It has now emerged members of Clodagh Hawe's family sought to have Alan Hawe's remains removed from the grave a short time after their funerals last August.

However the decision to exhume his body rested with his next of kin.

Independent.ie has learned that the order granting remission for this to happen was given in March.

Ms Hawe's family had requested that the body be removed ahead of her 40th birthday on Easter Sunday.

Expand Close September 3, 2016: The five hearses carrying the remains of the Hawe Family, Alan and Clodagh and their three children as they made their way to St Mary's Church, Castlerahan near Ballyjamesduff. Dad-of-three Alan Hawe murdered his wife Clodagh and three children before killing himself. His mother-in-law called emergency services when she read a note on the home's back door warning her not to enter the home. Photo: Frank McGrath / Facebook

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Whatsapp September 3, 2016: The five hearses carrying the remains of the Hawe Family, Alan and Clodagh and their three children as they made their way to St Mary's Church, Castlerahan near Ballyjamesduff. Dad-of-three Alan Hawe murdered his wife Clodagh and three children before killing himself. His mother-in-law called emergency services when she read a note on the home's back door warning her not to enter the home. Photo: Frank McGrath

However this did not happen and efforts were ramped up in the last number of days to expedite this process. This led to the exhumation of his remains this morning.

Under HSE guidelines, the remains of a deceased person must be reburied or cremated within 48 hours of exhumation.

Gardaí attended the scene in Cavan this morning.

Since their deaths the Clodagh's family have gone through a number of life events without them.

A source said: "Niall should should have done his confirmation in April. Liam should be preparing for his Junior Cert, all his class are doing it in a couple of weeks.

"And Clodagh should have celebrated her 40th last month."

Her sister Jacqueline Connolly and friends are planning to run the Women's Mini Marathon next month to raise funds for the Cavan Lighthouse.

Jacqueline told Independent.ie this morning: "Our beautiful Clodagh, Liam Niall and Ryan should still be alive. At least now they can finally rest in peace."

Grave

There were initially plans to exhume the grave some weeks ago but the ground was too wet.

It was hoped to carry out the grim task during a mid term break when there would be no children in the school opposite the cemetery, but work was carried out at first light this morning in the hope of having the job completed before the school opens.

The family were buried side by side, so removing Alan Hawe’s coffin, which was positioned on the left of the plot, was relatively straightforward and did not involve disturbing the graves of Clodagh and the children.

The inquest into the family’s death is expected to take place later this year.

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Since the incident, Clodagh's family have fundraised for Women's Aid. The family said they were hoping to help others.

Clodagh's sister Jacqueline Connolly said: "We are in the very early stages of setting up a committee with a view to doing the Women's Mini-Marathon in June in memory of Clodagh, Liam, Niall and Ryan. We hope to raise funds from this, with a view to setting up a refuge in Cavan."

Ms Connolly said there was no facility in Co Cavan for victims of domestic abuse.

"One woman a day from Cavan is turned away from other refuges due to lack of accommodation and facilities," she said.

On the funding page created earlier this year, the family wrote;

"Clodagh was strong and beautiful inside and out and was so loving.

"She was warm, loving, bright and capable and she was bringing her boys Liam, Niall and Ryan, up to have those same qualities. They will live on and her strength will live on.

"We want their deaths to help other women who are living in fear and isolation in their own homes. So please support our fundraising appeal for Women’s Aid.

"One in five women in Ireland experience domestic abuse and many women are isolated and alone.

"Women’s Aid runs the 24hr National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 which is a confidential service for women affected by domestic abuse.

"Their work makes a life-changing difference and we hope the donations made in Clodagh’s name will help them be there to listen, to believe and to support women. Every single time."

You can donate to Cavan Lighthouse here

If you have been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this post, please feel free to contact Samaritans at 116 123 or by emailing jo@samaritans.org, or contact Women's Aid on freephone 1800 341 900

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