Northern Ireland

Podcast to shine new light on murder of Michaela McAreavey in Mauritius

Michaela and John McAreavey pictured on their honeymoon in 2011.
Michaela and John McAreavey pictured on their honeymoon in 2011. Michaela and John McAreavey pictured on their honeymoon in 2011.

A podcast about the murder of Michaela McAreavey will shine a new light on the case and describe what the trial in Mauritius was like for her loved ones.

The daughter of Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte was strangled in her hotel room shortly after having lunch with her husband John while on honeymoon in January 2011.

Two hotel workers were acquitted of murdering the 27-year-old school teacher following a high-profile trial on the Indian Ocean island the following year.

A nine-part podcast, a Murder in Mauritius, will now detail the harrowing events of that time and the family's ongoing campaign for justice.

Mr McAreavey, who has since remarried, told Newstalk radio station yesterday: "We always felt that, because the trial itself had turned into this big circus act, we felt that truth had been lost in that and we wanted to present the evidence."

He said the family have spent nearly nine years working with Mauritian authorities to get justice for Michaela and will not give up.

"Our approach was there is no point shouting and roaring here and getting their backs up," he said.

"We needed these guys on side and we felt we should support them and give them an opportunity to right the wrongs that happened in 2012.

"We felt that was our best chance at actually delivering justice. That was the main objective - but as time went on, that has just sort of faded away."

Michaela's brother Mark Harte also features in the podcast, as does Mr McAreavey's sister Claire.

In 2017 all three returned to the island to meet Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and Director of Public Prosecutions Satyajit Boolell.

They made a public appeal for information and offered a reward of 2 million Mauritian rupees (£44,000) - almost twice the average annual salary - for information which leads to a conviction in the case.

Mr McAreavey said a potential change in Mauritian law could mean the men acquitted face a retrial if compelling evidence emerges.