THE family of Michaela McAreavey have hit out at Mauritian authorities saying promises to bring her killers to justice are "starting to ring hollow".
As they mark her fifth anniversary, Michaela's family said their sheer frustration with the lack of justice was compounded by the fact her murderers continue to walk free.
In January 2011, the brutal murder of the 27-year-old school teacher, the daughter of Tyrone GAA boss Mickey Harte, on honeymoon in Mauritius shocked Ireland and the world.
Then Mauritian Prime Minister, Navinchandra Ramgoolam - who was last year arrested and charged with corruption and money laundering - promised to bring Michaela's killers to justice.
A fresh police investigation which the families say has "uncovered fresh and compelling evidence" has not yet let to any arrests or charges.
In a joint statement, the Harte and McAreavey families re-iterated their disappointment at the handling of the case.
Michaela's husband, former Down GAA player John McAreavey, discovered his new wife's lifeless body in a bath of water in their hotel room at the luxury Legends Hotel complex less than two weeks after they were married.
Two hotel workers were later charged with the murder, in what Mauritian police claimed was a botched burglary. Following a seven-week trial in Mauritius they were acquitted in July 2012.
No-one has ever been convicted of the murder.
Yesterday the Harte and McAreavey families said: "As the fifth anniversary of the murder of Michaela passes, our families are still waiting on the Mauritian authorities to deliver on their promise of justice.
"In a statement by the Mauritian Prime Minister in 2012 he said that justice would be done and would be seen to be done in this case. This promise is starting to ring hollow, as the criminal proceedings seem to have ground to a halt.
"We know that the Mauritian authorities have completed a new criminal investigation, which has uncovered fresh and compelling evidence, but we are still waiting on them to act on it. Throughout this process we have remained extremely patient and courteous to the Mauritian authorities in allowing due process to proceed."
The families said they were calling on the Mauritian authorities to "do the right thing" and "continue to pray that justice is served for Michaela and our families".
They said: "Due to the poor and erratic direct communication from the Mauritian authorities we are forced to appeal for information through various other channels including the Irish Government and the NI Executive."
The families added: "Our sheer frustration with the lack of justice that Michaela has received by the authorities is further compounded by the fact that her murderers continue to walk free in Mauritius."
