Jan 11
12
Three expected to be charged over Michaela’s murder
McKenna game will proceed with Dad’s blessing – Thousands to attend if game is played in Enniskillen
Police in Mauritius are expected to charge three men in connection with the murder of Michaela Harte McAreavey, daughter of Tyrone GAA manager Mickey Harte.
Officers have completed preliminary inquiries and have enough evidence to bring the three before the courts, sources have indicated.
Mrs McAreavey, 27, was on honeymoon in the island paradise when she was found strangled in her room in the luxury Legends Hotel complex by newly wedded husband John, a member of the Down GAA panel in 2008.
Authoritative sources close to the murder investigation told the Press Association that charges were imminent.
“This is the worst nightmare that anyone can imagine. If you think things can be bad, then you go beyond that because that is where we are,” her devastated Dad Mickey said. He had brought the couple to Dublin Airport on their journey to Mauritius following their wedding in Tyrone on December 30th.
Meanwhile Tyrone county board say they will honour their Dr McKenna Cup fixture with Fermanagh at Brewster Park, Enniskillen, on Sunday after getting the blessing of their manager.
They say that the game will be played, but should Michaela McAreavey’s body arrive home in the interim the game would most certainly not be played.
The decision to proceed with the Dr McKenna Cup tie was taken after Mickey Harte expressed the wish that the players should turn out for the first game of the 2010 campaign.
“The only thing that will prevent that happening is the remains coming home or a possible funeral. Mickey Harte has given his blessing for Tyrone GAA activities to continue,” Tyrone PRO Damian Harvey said.
If the game does go ahead, it is expected that thousands of Gaels will travel to the game to pay their own unique respect to Michaela, in what will be just as emotional a day for all, as her pending funeral will no doubt be.
The Mauritian tourism minister Nando Bodha said Ms Harte’s murder was the worst crime ever to be committed against a tourist in the country.
He said he had spoken to John McAreavey immediately before going on Irish radio yesterday and had asked him if he wanted him to say anything about his wife on air. He said Mr McAreavey replied: “I love my wife.”
