FACE OF KNIFE HORROR MOTHER; Family devastated by slaughter.

Byline: By DARREN BOYLE and VICTORIA WARD

THIS is young mum Maggie Hanrahan, brutally knifed to death alongside her four-month-old daughter by a jealous lover.

Her distraught family, members of the Travelling community, were yesterday trying to come to terms with the horrific murder. Her sister-in-law said: "Maggie was so lovely.

"It's terrible to think how she must have been treated. We're devastated."

The 29-year-old and little Elleoina were murdered by junkie Paul Fuller before he used the blade to kill himself. It's thought Fuller was also the infant's father.

Maggie's family claimed the mum of three, affectionately nicknamed Ninea, was desperate to flee her ex and left Ireland for London to get way from him.

But the 49-year-old caught up with her and after a violent frenzy the three bodies were found in separate rooms in a Tower Hamlets council flat.

Maggie's relative, who did not want to be named, added: "She was desperate to get away from Paul. Maggie left her old home when he tried to kick her door down. He must have followed her here.

"I saw her about 12 weeks ago. She didn't make any mention of her boyfriend being violent. Ninea was a lovely girl. She always tried her best to smile. She never told us what she must have been going through.

"The little baby was beautiful and she loved her. It's all come as such a shock for us. We're absolutely devastated.

"We are still in the dark as to what really happened and we're waiting for the results of the postmortem but it looks like he must have attacked Ninea and her little baby."

The sister-in-law also revealed Maggie had wanted to return to her husband of 10 years, Jim. She ditched him for Paul when he was jailed.

Maggie's sons Jimboy, nine, and seven-year-old Patrick laid flowers outside her home yesterday. Metropolitan Police officers were continuing their fingertip search of the flat in Bow. A special team from the Met's Child Abuse Investigations Command are probing the deaths.

A police spokesman said: "At 4.45pm on Monday we attended an address in Birchdown House, Devons Road, after concerns that the residents had not been spoken to for some days.

"Inside the address, officers discovered the bodies of a 29-year-old woman a 49-year-old man and a four-month-old female baby.

"All three were pronounced dead at the scene. We retain an open mind regarding the circumstances at this early stage.""

Neighbour Amanda Gunnell, 38, said she had known Maggie for the past six months.

She claimed Fuller had been abusing her friend. Ms Gunnell said the pair had met in Ireland and the killer had followed her to Bow in London.

Bromley-By-Bow councillor Mohamed Munim said he thought that Ms Ward had lived there for just five to eight weeks ago.

He confirmed he had met with Maggie last week when she asked about moving.

'Maggie was so lovely.. it is terrible to think how she was treated'

- SISTER-IN-LAW YESTERDAY

CAPTION(S):

VICTIM: Maggie Hanrahan; KILLED: Maggie Hanrahan; SCENE: Council flats in East London