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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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Deadly Silence

By: Jacqueline Connolly
Narrated by: Sherelle Kelleher
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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Jacqueline also reveals many of the shocking, unpublished findings of the recent Garda Serious Crime Review, details that challenge our understanding of domestic violence and family annihilators, while laying bare a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 Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Inspiring Scary Thought-Provoking
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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
I first heard about this on RTE Claire Byrne. Often wondered how Jacqueline &her Mam moved forward. A fascinating read. Such resilience & determination to get answers. Great work getting message out about coercive behaviour. I thoroughly enjoyed this book & wish the author & her Mam many blessings in future.

Deadly silence

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Very well presented and with professionals support how trauma can be challenged face on but getting the support for those without a voice, the network or the money is almost impossible. Even with the truth, it is silenced and mistakes repeated. A book of Hope and Love

The frustration, pain and endurance of trauma for a family

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The honest and heartbreaking courage of Jacqueline to tell Clodaghs story while bringing to the fore the flaws in the Irish justice system, ensured that Clodagh and her boys would never be forgotten.

Honest, heartbreaking and courageous

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Motivation and dedication to her sister and nephews to get to the truth; a warrior!

honesty of the author

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I write this review in the hope that Jacqueline reads this. I gasped, I cried, it made me angry but hopeful. Jacqueline, you are an amazing person and your experience is one that should be shared as a learning opportunity to try to help others both officially and for women with whom this resonates. I am so sorry for your loss. This book is amazing and really important. Thank you for your honesty, courage and trust.

Courageous, raw, honest and deeply important.

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