11/01/2011

Mickey Harte's Daughter Strangled On Honeymoon

Mauritius police have confirmed that Michaela Harte, the daughter of Tyrone Gaelic Football Manager Mickey Harte, was strangled.

The 27-year-old Irish woman, was found dead while on honeymoon at the Legends hotel in Mauritius.

Her husband John McAreavey, a member of Down's Gaelic Football Team, is not a suspect after the couple married on 30 December.

Police in Mauritius are examining CCTV footage from the hotel and will question six people today in connection with the killing. A post-mortem examination revealed marks on Mrs McAreavey's neck.

It is understood she went up to their hotel room to collect something, and when she failed to return, Mr McAreavey, who had remained in the restaurant, went to look for her and found her body.

An official from the Irish Embassy in Pretoria in South Africa is currently en-route to assist Mr McAreavey.

The couple booked into the hotel last Saturday and were due to leave on Sunday.

Superintendent Yoosoof Soopun, from the Mauritius Police Force, told the Press Association officers were confident of an arrest later today.

He confirmed the killer had used an electronic key card to enter the room.

He said: "There was no forced entry into the room. Whoever killed her definitely used an electronic card."

Mrs McAreavey was a former contestant in the Rose of Tralee pageant, and taught Irish at St Patrick's Academy in Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

She was very close to her father and was at his side on the three occasions his team won the all-Ireland championship at Croke Park, Dublin, in 2003, 2005 and 2008.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and Fermanagh/South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew, have extended their deepest sympathies to the Harte and McAreavey families.

Kieran McCarthy, Alliance MLA, said: "This is absolutely tragic news and my thoughts are with both families as they try to come to terms with what has happened.

"Michaela was a friendly and familiar face who was never far from her dad at any Tyrone matches. She will be very much missed and everyone in Tyrone and across Northern Ireland is in shock at present.”

(BMcN/GK)

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22 October 2012
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The family of Michaela McAreavey are reported to be suing the hotel in which she was murdered while on honeymoon, for damages which could top €1.5million. The 27-year-old newlywed was strangled in her room at the former Legends Hotel in Mauritius in January last year.
14 March 2013
John McAreavey Settle's With Irish Daily Mail
John McAreavey, the husband of Michaela McAreavey, has agreed a five figure sum in damages from the Irish Daily Mail, who published CCTV images of the couple arguing in their honeymoon hotel suite. An unreserved apology was also issued by a lawyer for the paper over the publication of the "potentially misleading images".
17 January 2011
Thousands Expected At Michaela's Funeral
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21 June 2012
Further Delays In Michaela McAreavey Murder Trial
The trial of two men accused of murdering Michaela McAreavey in Mauritius has been adjourned again until next week. It is understood the delay in proceedings is due to outstanding legal matters. Yesterday, the court sat without the jury present to allow lawyers and judge Mr Justice Prithviraj Fecknah time to resolve the issues.
18 June 2012
McAreavey Murder Trail Enters Fifth Week
The Michaela McAreavey murder trail, being held in Mauritius, is entering it’s fifth week. Today's proceedings are expected to involve discussion about CCTV images from the Legends Hotel reception area taken on the day that Mrs McAreavey was murdered.