Northern Ireland

Michaela McAreavey's family 'reaches €1.6m hotel settlement'

Michaela and John McAreavey on honeymoon in Dubai before travelling to Mauritius
Michaela and John McAreavey on honeymoon in Dubai before travelling to Mauritius Michaela and John McAreavey on honeymoon in Dubai before travelling to Mauritius

THE hotel in Mauritius where Michaela McAreavey was murdered on honeymoon has reached an out-of-court settlement with her husband and family.

Ms McAreavey's widower and members of the Harte family took a civil case aganst Legends Hotel following her 2011 murder.

The financial agreement has not been made public but is reportedly in the region of €1.6m.

The 27-year-old was strangled in her hotel room and her body placed in a bath full of water where she was discovered by her husband, John. Police on the Indian Ocean island said she had been the victim of a robbery that had gone wrong. Two hotel employees went on trial accused of the killing and were acquitted. No-one has been convicted of her killing.

The Harte and McAreavey's lawyer in Mauritius, Dick Sui Wa, said the families were "satisfied" with the terms of the settlement, according to the Irish Independent.

"It was an out-of-court settlement but I am unable to confirm any details because of a non-disclosure agreement," he is reported as saying.

"I can say the family are satisfied with the settlement."

The monies received from the civil action, bar some expenses incurred by her husband, will be donated to the Michaela Foundation which was set up in memory of the Irish teacher and daughter of Tyrone GAA manager Mickey Harte and his wife Marian.

In January Ms McAreavey's family said the promise by Mauritian authorities to bring her killers to justice "appears hollow".

Speaking on the fourth anniversary of the murder, they vowed to continue to pursue justice.