Michaela McAreavey: Husband offers 拢43,000 reward to catch bride鈥檚 killer
John McAreavey says he feels betrayed by the justice authorities in Mauritius following his wife's death on their honeymoon.
Tuesday 4 April 2017 15:16, UK
The widower of an Irish woman murdered on her honeymoon in Mauritius has offered a 拢43k reward and returned to the island to 鈥渨in justice鈥� for his bride.
John McAreavey's wife Michaela, a 27-year-old religious studies teacher, was found strangled and half-submerged in the bath of their honeymoon suite on 10 January 2011.
Returning to the island six-and-a-half years after her death, Mr McAreavey is offering a £43,000 reward to help catch his wife's killer.
Making an emotional public appeal following the "very painful" journey, he said he felt betrayed by the Mauritian justice authorities, accusing them of inaction in the stalled investigation.
Following an eight-week trial which involved more than 50 witnesses,
The biggest hearing of its kind in the island's judicial history, the case received all the more attention because Mrs McAreavey was the only daughter of Mickey Harte, the manager of the highly successful County Tyrone Gaelic football club.
Sat with his sister Claire and Mrs McAreavey's brother Mark, Mr McAreavey offered the reward to anyone who provides information that leads to the successful prosecution of the killer or killers.
"Over the past six-and-a-half years our resolve to win justice for Michaela remains undiminished," he said.
"We believe we have given the Mauritian authorities every chance to deliver on their very public promise that justice would be done.
"However, until this visit, the reality falls far short of that and as the years have passed it appears that the unofficial policy has become one of 'out of sight, out of mind'."
Mr McAreavey met with police chiefs and Mauritian prime minister Pravind Jugnauth.
During a news conference he asked for the help of "those who may know something, but have not yet come forward for whatever reason".
Describing the "kindness and sympathy" of the Mauritian people he directly appealed to them "to come forward with any piece of information, no matter how small".
"As time marches on this could be our final chance to obtain justice for Michaela, but we can't do it alone," he said.