Research into domestic homicide and familicide has been announced in Ireland following recent tragic family deaths.
The family of Clodagh Hawe, the Irishwoman murdered by her husband in their family home in 2016, has welcomed the Irish government’s decision to approve research into domestic homicide and familicide.
Hawe and her three young sons Liam, Niall, and Ryan were brutally murdered in their Co Cavan home in 2016 by her husband Alan. Three months ago, her family met with Irish Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan looking for answers on what led to their deaths.
In response, Minister Flanagan announced the appointment of Norah Gibbons, a qualified social worker with experience in the UK and Ireland, to carry out a review on the provision of supports to families of the victims of familicide.
The research will also focus on international best practice in the carrying out of Domestic Homicide reviews.
Read more: Alan Hawe confession letter reveals he “enjoyed” killing his wife and three sons
Clodagh Hawe and her three sons.
"While familicide is relatively rare in Ireland, these horrific events have a devastating impact on those left behind," the Minister said on the announcement.
The review was needed "to ensure clear protocols and guidelines are in place so the State can provide all appropriate supports and do so in an appropriate and timely manner," he added.
As well as consulting with State agencies, family members of victims, and non-Governmental organizations, the review will also have regard to the media’s role in reporting on these events.
Irish mother Kathleen Chada, whose two sons were killed by their father in 2012, has also welcomed the news.
Chada’s husband Sanjeev Chada was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014 for the murder of his sons Eoghan, 10, and Ruairí, 5. He had driven the boys to Co Mayo in July 2013 where he strangled them.
Read more: Horror of murder-suicide of wife and three children revealed in family's first interview
The Chada brothers.
Grieving mother Chada has previously called for the implementation of the Parole Bill, which would change the length of time at which a prisoner serving a life sentence can appeal for parole from seven years to 12 years.
“If that is implemented in the next 12 to 14 months then he can’t apply for parole until he has served 12 years. That’s one piece of legislation I want to see implemented as soon as possible,” Chada told RTE radio’s Today with Sean O’Rourke show of her husband’s sentence.
“My greatest nightmare is bumping into him over the grave. He threatened me. He planned to take my life along with the boys.”
She told RTÉ that she believes it's important that emphasis is not placed on blame but on looking into what happened so that deaths can be prevented in the future.
What do you think of the research announcement? Let us know in the comments section, below.
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