“We just can not believe something like this has happened in our little village”.
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Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll says the answer lies within the family home.
The police confirmed that the force was not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths, The Guardian reported on Monday.
He added that the “most likely scenario” emerging even at this early stage is one involving a possible murder-suicide. “All the circumstances will be explored but as it stands at the moment that is the position”.
Police searching the home have found a hatchet, believed to have been used in the attack, with forensics also removing a number of knives from the home.
Other neighbours described the family as “the most normal people you would meet”, and were struggling to comprehend what happened in the Oakdene estate on Monday morning.
The area has been sealed off and the office of the State Pathologist has been notified.
A second note was later discovered during a forensic search of the house at Oakdene Downs in the townland of Barconey.
The results of the examinations are not expected to be released for at least two days.
Update 6.30pm: Local Councillor Paddy Smith has said people are shellshocked as to what has happened.
“We are working along very definite lines of inquiry”.
Mr Hawe was a teacher in Castlerahan National School, where Niall and Ryan were pupils.
The family had lived in the area for some time and were known in the community. We are deeply saddened by this event.
“The family were just salt of the earth, a attractive family and Clodagh was a handsome person”.
Mr Hawe is one of the founding members of Alan’s beloved Windgap Handball Club, said the father-of-three was heavily involved in handball. “Niall and Ryan were pupils in our school and Liam was a past pupil”, she said.
“Clodagh was a much loved and valued teacher in our school and will be greatly missed by all who knew her”.
His wife Clodagh, in her 30s, who was a teacher at Oristown National School, was also about to start the new term.
No motive has emerged, but there were reports locally that Mr Hawe, originally from Windgap, Co Kilkenny, may have had mental health difficulties in the past.
The wife was believed to be from Co Cavan.
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Locals who saw the family at a football match at nearby Castlerahan GAA club on Sunday afternoon said that there was no sign of the horror to come.
