THE family of Michaela McAreavey have today condemned a Mauritius newspaper called ‘Sunday Times’ which published pictures of the crime scene including the body of the Tyrone girl.
On the front page there is a photograph of Mrs McAreavey taken after her death – under the headline ‘Exclusive’.
Inside the paper, there are more images of the crime scene, including the hotel room and the bathroom.
There are also close up pictures of Mrs McAreavey’s injuries.
The Mauritian lawyer for John McAreavey said he is to refer the publishing of the photographs to the country’s DPP and Commissioner of the Police.
Mr Dick Ng Sui Wa said the photos should not have been published and there should be an inquiry as to how the newspaper got hold of the images.
Last week two men were acquitted of Michaela’s murder after an eight-week trial. She was murdered in her hotel room there last January just days after marrying in her native Tyrone.
An enthusiastic Irish language speaker, Michaela was a regular visitor to the Donegal gaeltacht and her dad Mickey Harte, the Tyrone GAA manager, has many friends here who will be appalled by the latest development.
The McAreavey and Harte families have issued a joint statement in response to the publication of the pictures.
In a statement, the a spokesperson for the families said: “As the families struggle to come with the result from the trial – this action by the newspaper is not only insensitive to their grief but marks another low in the treatment of John, the two families and the dignity of Michaela.”
In a statement, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: “The publication of these images represents an appalling invasion of privacy and is a gross affront to human dignity. There are issues of fundamental human rights in question in relation to this deeply upsetting matter.
“This reprehensible act can only add to the pain and suffering of the McAreavey and Harte families and our thoughts and sympathies are again with them at this time.
“On behalf of the people of Ireland, the Government will be lodging a formal complaint in the strongest possible terms, with the Government of Mauritius.”
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