North leaders’ plea to PM of Mauritius over Michaela
LEADERS in the North have written to the Mauritian prime minister urging him to bring Michaela McAreavey’s killers to justice.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the investigation into the murder of Ms McAreavey has been defined by sustained indifference in Mauritius.
She said she shared the views of Ms McAreavey’s family that not enough has been done to catch those responsible for her death while on honeymoon on the Indian Ocean island in 2011.
Ms O’Neill and First Minister Arlene Foster wrote a joint letter to Mauritian premier Pravind Jugnauth to outline the family’s concerns, urging him to take action. Ms Foster said the 27year-old teacher’s murder had brought ‘absolute devastation’ to her widower John McAreavey and her family, the Hartes.
Ms McAreavey, who was the only daughter of Tyrone Gaelic football boss Mickey Harte, was murdered when she returned to her hotel room alone and disturbed a burglary in January 2011, while she was on honeymoon with her husband.
Two former hotel workers were acquitted after a high-profile trial on the holiday island in 2012.
John McAreavey has pursued a long campaign for justice and has accused the Mauritian authorities of being more interested in preserving the island’s reputation as a holiday destination than catching his tragic wife’s killers.
Ms O’Neill said: ‘As the tenth anniversary of Micheala McAreavey’s death approaches, myself and Arlene Foster as joint heads of government have written to the prime minister of Mauritius to request that the government there do all that they can to bring those responsible to justice.
‘Micheala and John were spending time in Mauritius on their honeymoon. She was a popular young woman, a much-loved daughter, a sister and a wife. Her loss was acutely felt right across the island of Ireland and even beyond. From her untimely death, the McAreavey and Harte families have had serious concerns about the investigation.
‘In the memory of Michaela, her family have fought a long battle for truth and for justice.
‘It is the family’s contention that the Mauritian investigation is being defined by sustained indifference as they have no tangible evidence that the authorities are serious about pursuing those responsible.’
She said she ‘shares that view’, adding: ‘The investigation did not and has not given confidence to the family that everything that could be done was being done.
‘As a result, no-one has ever been brought to justice. We will continue to do all that we can to support both the Harte and the McAreavey families in their quest for justice for Michaela.’
Ms Foster said: ‘This was a tragedy and we want to see justice done.’ She added that ‘none of us with children could fail to be moved with the absolute devastation caused by the murder against a background of a wonderful wedding’.
‘Absolute devastation’