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Deadly Silence

A Sister’s Battle to Uncover the Truth Behind the Murder of Clodagh and Her Sons by Alan Hawe - Non-Fiction Book of the Year 2025, An Post Irish Book Awards

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About this listen

 NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025, AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARDS

The heart-breaking account of a search for the truth behind the brutal killings that shocked a nation.

On 29 August 2016, devastating news hit the headlines that an entire family was found dead in a rural community. For Jacqueline Connolly, this was a deeply personal and life-shattering tragedy, as she discovered her sister Clodagh, along with her nephews Liam, Niall and Ryan, were killed by their husband and father Alan Hawe.

Here, Jacqueline discloses the circumstances leading up to these tragic events, including Hawe's manipulation and coercive control of her unsuspecting sister.

Her gripping account tells of her family's painful struggle to expose critical failures in the initial garda investigation, as they uncovered the terrible darkness behind Hawe's 'pillar-of-the-community' facade.

Jacqueline also reveals many of the shocking, unpublished findings of the recent Garda Serious Crime Review, details that challenge our understanding of domestic violence and family annihilators, while laying bare a mass murder - Ireland's largest murder-suicide - that was cold-bloodedly planned for a year in advance.

Deadly Silence is both the story of a sister's determination to find truth and justice, and an inspiring personal journey of healing from severe trauma and loss.©2025 Jacqueline Coll Abuse Crime Domestic Partner Abuse Dysfunctional Families Murder Parenting & Families Relationships True Crime

Critic Reviews

Deadly Silence is a record of Clodagh's sister Jacqueline's attempts to 'uncover the truth' about what happened ... It is a deeply poignant account of innocent lives lost for no reason and then symbolically lost again by the meaning of the deaths being misunderstood ... Deadly Silence is a vital book
That it is so utterly compelling, even as she narrates some deeply distressing events, is a testament to her resilience and grace under the most catastrophic circumstances
As riveting as it is heartbreaking ... an important read
All stars
Most relevant
What a brave, courageous, tenacious and incredible woman Jacqueline and her mother are. I cannot begin to image the loss but to then have brick wall after brick wall put up in front of them was absolutely astounding. Having experieced the loss of my sister to suicide and my husband from cancer it also helped me understand my trauma. Thank you Jacqueline, your beautiful mother and family for fighting for the truth about the senseless murder of your beautiful sister, daugher and nephews. I pray that life in the future is kinder to you both, God alone knows why some people suffer such immensly.

Incredibly Heart Breaking but so much Tenacity

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This book made me late to work twice as I sat in the car park listening, unable to tear myself away . I want to say how I enjoyed this book however, enjoy is not the right word due to the content… it is a saddening story, told beautifully by a family who never gave up. Highly recommend this, you won’t be able to turn it off.

A chilling insight

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Once I started on this true heart wrenching story I simply couldn't put it down. So many emotions are raised throughout listening. I cannot imagine how hard it would have been to write this book but I'm so glad that the truth was shared. it was written beautifully and hopefully with each listen the heartache is lessened and it continues to bring awareness for anyone who might be experiencing any of the issues raised here.

I couldn't stop listening

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Despite the difficult subject matter, I was gripped from the very beginning. What this poor family have gone through is astonishing; the strength and resilience they have shown in fighting for their loved ones is beyond admirable. I hope that Clodagh and her boys are at peace.

Heartbreaking, harrowing

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Love loved the detail and information given to help so many people in a situation similar or close to the same. Great Listening

The power of determination and not staying silent

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