Mauritian Sunday Times Apologises Publishing For Michaela Photographs

The newspaper which published photographs of Michaela McAreavey's dead body on Sunday has apologised.

The Mauritian Sunday Times (no connection to any British or Irish newspaper) published photographs that were taken at the crime scene in the County Tyrone honeymooner’s hotel room.

After an international outcry, the paper's director has apologised and said the motive was not sensationalism.

General Imran Hosany said the publication was an attempt "to recall that such a heinous crime remained unpunished".

Two men accused of the murder were acquitted last week after a trial that lasted more than a month and a half.

During the trial, the Mauritian police examination was put under the spotlight, as barristers claimed police had failed to interview important witnesses, left widower John McAreavey handcuffed for hours after he found his wife’s body, and forced one defendant into signing a confession.

Mrs McAreavey's family from the Harte and McAreavey sides released a statement saying the best form of apology for the "unjustifiable" act would be for the newspaper to tell police how they got access to the photographs.

Police in Mauritius have seized documents including newspapers from the Port Louis offices of the Mauritian Sunday Times.

Northern Ireland's First and Deputy First Ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness added their voices to those of the Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore in condemning the publication of the images.

And a statement from the Mauritian prime minister Navin Ramgoolam called it a "reckless infliction of further hardship on the bereaved families".

(NE)