John McAreavey returns to Mauritius to seek justice

Image caption, John McAreavey arrived at Mauritius International Airport shortly after 09:00 BST on Saturday
  • Author, Mark Simpson
  • Role, 大象传媒 News NI

John McAreavey, whose wife Michaela was murdered on honeymoon in Mauritius six years ago, has returned to the island.

He has gone back to issue a fresh appeal for information about her killing.

No-one has been convicted of the murder of Mrs McAreavey, 27, the daughter of Tyrone gaelic football manager Mickey Harte.

Mr McAreavey arrived at Mauritius International Airport shortly after 09:00 BST on Saturday.

With him was his sister, Claire McAreavey, who is a lawyer, and Mark Harte, one of Michaela's brothers.

'I don't want sympathy, I want justice'

She was strangled to death at a luxury hotel in northern Mauritius 12 days after her wedding in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

Image source, PA

Image caption, John and Michaela McAreavey on their wedding day six years ago

Before leaving for Mauritius, Mr McAreavey told the 大象传媒 he was prepared "to go to the ends of the earth to ensure that justice is achieved for Michaela".

He added: "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."

John and Michaela McAreavey went on honeymoon to Mauritius in January 2011. She was found dead in a bath at the four-star Legends Hotel, after returning to her room to collect a packet of biscuits.

Two hotel workers - Avinash Treebhoowoon and Sandip Moneea- were later accused of murdering her and stood trial in the Mauritian capital Port Louis.

They were found not guilty of the murder.

Video caption, Nad Sivaramen says people will be surprised to see John McAreavey

Mauritian police launched a fresh investigation following the trial, but it came to nothing.

In Mauritius, there is some surprise that Mr McAreavey has returned to the island.

"I think people will be shocked because we gathered that he had started a new life and that he would move on and forget about this tragedy," Nad Sivaramen, a journalist with l'express newspaper said.

"People will be surprised to see him and to see that his quest for the truth is still there."

Image caption, Michaela McAreavey was found dead in a bath at the four-star Legends Hotel, after returning to her room to get biscuits

Mr McAreavey remarried in September last year. His wife, Tara Brennan, is an accountant from County Kildare.

He said: "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."