Irish News, Features & Sport

#JusticeforMichaela

A nation held its breath as a packed courtroom awaited the verdict in the case of two hotel workers who were accused of murdering Michaela McAreavey. The McAreavey and Harte families sat in the front row of a Port Louis courtroom, the strains and stresses of the eight-week trial all to prevalent on their faces. Their eyes and those of 200 others fixed solely on the the jury box.

“Not guilty” declared the foreman.  After one of the longest and most closely scrutinised criminal trials to take place in Mauritius, hotel workers Avinash Treebhoowoon and Sandip Moneea were acquitted of murdering Michaela McAreavey, the 27-year-old teacher from Co Tyrone, during her honeymoon in January 2011 with her husband, John. It took the jury of six men and three women two hours to reach its decision.

No sooner had the verdict been reached that her family stormed out of a courtroom which had turned into a scene of joy for the freed hotel workers, who were given a kind assist in their search for freedom by bungling police officers. Under Mauritian law, Mr Treebhoowoon and Mr Moneea cannot be retried for the offence of murder.

A brief statement issued on behalf of the McAreavey and Harte families said there were “no words which can describe the sense of devastation and desolation” they felt after the verdict. Their sorrow and grief of that faithful January 2011 day will remain with them forever and they will get no closure until justice is achieved. Unfortunately for the long suffering family it now appears that the perpetrator will never be brought to justice as police have no further suspects or evidence to work off. In approximately 80-85% of murder cases in Mauritius most are solved with a confession yet the ignorant, cold hearted and maligned police force are so inept that they may never find the perpetrator and even then they may struggle to drag a confession out of them.

The miscarriage of justice has been felt around all around the globe but no more so than throughout Ireland. The nation has become encapsulated with events surrounding the murder of Michaela ever since she was taking from her family. She was the pride and joy of her family, a friend to many and an inspiration to those that knew her yet such was her nature that the people of Ireland could relate to her. Thus they felt a sudden grievance when the daughter of one of the most decorated GAA managers of all time was so cruelly taken.

While justice for Michaela may never be achieved, her memory lives on in the life and soul of her family and in the heart of every Irish person.

#JusticeforMichaela