Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Family’s fury at Michaela murder probe 10yrs on
Loved ones anger over case
RELATIVES of murdered honeymooner Michaela Mcareavey have accused the Mauritius authorities of disrespect and inertia as they prepare to mark the 10th anniversary of her death.
The 27-year-old, who was the only daughter of All-ireland winning Gaelic football manager Mickey Harte, was strangled in her hotel room on the Indian Ocean island on January 10, 2011.
The Co Tyrone teacher, who had been married 10 days earlier, was attacked as she returned to her room alone and disturbed a burglary.
Two former workers at th e luxury resort– Sandip Moneea and Avi nash Treebhoowoon – were acquitted after a high-profile trial in the summer of 2012. Mrs Mcareavey’s widower John has led a long campaign for justice on behalf of her loved ones.
They have accused the Mauritian authorities of being more interested in preserving the island’s reputation as a holiday destination than catching her killers.
Ahead of the anniversary, the Harte and Mcareavey families insisted their det ermination to secure justice is undiminished a decade on.
In a joint statement, they said: “Over the course of the past 10 years, whilst learning to live with t h e massive loss of Michaela in our lives, we have also had to endure sheer frustration in the face of multiple barefaced lies from th e Mauriti an authorities that justice will be served in this case.
“They have repeatedly provided us with false hope when, in reality, there has been little meaning ful progress in this case, if any, since the acquittal in 2012.
“When we returned to Mauritius in 2017, we were assured yet again that the case remained active and a new investigation was then under way.
“But no sooner had we returned to Ireland, with the media attention dimmed, than the Mauritian authorities reverted to their default mode of inertia.
“The pain of being denied justice is further compounded by the fact that Michaela’s murderers continue to walk free in Mauritius.”
First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’neill wrote to Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth last year urging
action in the investigation. They received an acknowledgement that the letter had been received.
Stormont’s leaders have now requested a phone call.
It is understood the Republic’s Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has also yet to receive a substantive response to a letter to the island’s authorities.
The families criticised the failure of the Mauritian government to engage with them and political representatives.
They said: “This lack of respect for us as a bereaved family and for our country’s diplomatic channels of communication speaks volumes about the Mauritian government and , despite their public proclamations, their true feelings towards justice being delivered in this case.
“Ten years on, our determination to fight for justice for Michaela remains undiminished.” Four years ago, Mr Mcareavey returned to Mauritius and offered a substantial reward for information about the killing but it did not lead to a breakthrough in the investigation.
Detectives in Mauritius insist they have thoroughly investigated the case. Last month, John Mcareavey vowed to keeping fighting for justice after police in Mauritius officially closed investigation into the murder.
A new probe had been announced in August but found no new evidence for a new trial or a retrial before a jury, the Mauritian director of public prosecutions (DPP) said.
Hopes were raised in the summer when it emerged that a new team of investigators was looking at the circumstances of the teacher’s death.