I’M STILL HUNTING MICHAELA KILLERS
»»Widower John tells of determination for justice »»gaa legend Harte told son-in-law he’d love again
THE widower of honeymoon murder victim Michaela Mcareavey has told how he is still hunting for her killers and how he found love again with his second wife.
Brave John Mcareavey has rebuilt his life with the blessing of Michaela’s parents, Tyrone GAA legend Mickey Harte and his wife Marian.
The 33-year-old met Tara Brennan in Galway five years ago.
The chartered accountants first saw one another a week after a Match for Michaela in Belfast’s Casement Park.
After helping organise the game, which drew a 20,000-strong crowd, John headed to Galway for a break.
He told the Irish Catholic magazine: “It was a Saturday night, November 10, 2012, just over five years ago now, when I got talking to Tara for the first time. Tara was the first girl I had spoken to since Michaela. There was just something there. There was a spark, it was completely innocent on both sides.
“We got on very well and she told me a bit about herself and vice versa, and so we exchanged numbers.”
John also opened up about the challenges the couple faced as they continued to date.
He added: “No girl dreams about getting married to a young man who has been married before and whose wife has been tragically murdered.
“There is no guide to go by because nobody knows what it is like, but our guiding thing was our love and that is what prevailed.
“It was actually very difficult for Tara and me for a while because both of us, together, had to work through our feelings, had to navigate uncharted waters, but we now know, thank God, that it was all worth it.”
John, whose first marriage ended in tragedy when Michaela was murdered on their Mauritius honeymoon in January 2011, also told how her parents had helped him move on with his life.
He said: “They sat me down and talked to me, saying that one day they would really love me to meet somebody again.
“At that time it was very difficult to hear that and I didn’t want to hear that, but it gives you an insight into the type of people they are.
“Tara is the most generous person I know – in terms of generosity of spirit she is unbelievable, and when I see her doing things I see God living through her.”
John got married to Tara last year with his uncle the Bishop of Dromore officiating at the wedding.
Speaking about Michaela’s murder in Mauritius, he opened up about his continuing efforts to find and convict her killers.
John gets monthly reports on how the investigation is going and hasn’t ruled out going back to island.
He said: “I am prepared to give the Mauritian authorities time and space to do what they have to do.
“Huge mistakes were made the first time round and the authorities have a responsibility to put that right.”
John, who is a businessman with interests in Ireland and the UK, told how he believes Brexit is a disaster and expressed his admiration for late Sinn Fein politician Martin Mcguinness.
The former Tyrone star felt there was a spirit of goodwill when the Queen shooks hand with the ex IRA leader but feels things have gone downhill since that moment. He said: “That was very symbolic, and at that time you could see a bright future but in the space of five years that positivity has evaporated, which is hugely disappointing.
“Am I confident? I am not as confident as I was two years ago.
“In the past number of years, since the tragedy, I have met many brilliant, good and genuine people and one of those was Martin Mcguinness, who I got to know quite well.
“He was obviously a huge figure in Northern Ireland, and I don’t think we would be in this situation if he was still here.” With Mickey Harte