John returns to Mauritius to seek justice for Michaela

The widower of murdered Tyrone honeymooner Michaela McAreavey is returning to the holiday island where she died to make a fresh appeal for help in catching her killer.
John McAreavey and Michaela Harte on their wedding dayJohn McAreavey and Michaela Harte on their wedding day
John McAreavey and Michaela Harte on their wedding day

Banbridge man John McAreavey will make the long journey this week.

Mrs. McAreavey, a 27-year-old Co Tyrone teacher, who was the only daughter of Tyrone gaelic football manager Mickey Harte, was strangled in her room in the luxury Legends hotel in Mauritius in 2011.

Two former hotel workers were acquitted of the crime after a high-profile trial on the holiday island in the summer of 2012.

John McAreavey will travel to Mauritius at the weekend and hold a press conference on Tuesday.

“We need to appeal to the people of Mauritius, so we felt that the best way to achieve that is to get on a plane and get out there,” he told the BBC.

He continued: I’m very, very fortunate that I’ve such a loving family.

“You move forward with life, you enjoy the good things, but you don’t shy away from the hard things either.”

As he was during the long trial, Mr McAreavey will be accompanied by his sister Claire and Mrs McAreavey’s brother Mark.

Sandip Moneea and Avinash Treebhoowoon were cleared of the newlywed’s murder by a jury at the Supreme Court in Port Louis in July 2012.

The Ballygawley teacher was found dead in the bathtub of her deluxe room shortly after lunching with her husband John at a pool side restaurant.

Mr McAreavey has since remarried.

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