Mickey Harte's Daughter Strangled On Honeymoon

Mauritius police have confirmed that Michaela Harte, the daughter of Tyrone Gaelic Football Manager Mickey Harte, was strangled.

The 27-year-old Irish woman, was found dead while on honeymoon at the Legends hotel in Mauritius.

Her husband John McAreavey, a member of Down's Gaelic Football Team, is not a suspect after the couple married on 30 December.

Police in Mauritius are examining CCTV footage from the hotel and will question six people today in connection with the killing. A post-mortem examination revealed marks on Mrs McAreavey's neck.

It is understood she went up to their hotel room to collect something, and when she failed to return, Mr McAreavey, who had remained in the restaurant, went to look for her and found her body.

An official from the Irish Embassy in Pretoria in South Africa is currently en-route to assist Mr McAreavey.

The couple booked into the hotel last Saturday and were due to leave on Sunday.

Superintendent Yoosoof Soopun, from the Mauritius Police Force, told the Press Association officers were confident of an arrest later today.

He confirmed the killer had used an electronic key card to enter the room.

He said: "There was no forced entry into the room. Whoever killed her definitely used an electronic card."

Mrs McAreavey was a former contestant in the Rose of Tralee pageant, and taught Irish at St Patrick's Academy in Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

She was very close to her father and was at his side on the three occasions his team won the all-Ireland championship at Croke Park, Dublin, in 2003, 2005 and 2008.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and Fermanagh/South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew, have extended their deepest sympathies to the Harte and McAreavey families.

Kieran McCarthy, Alliance MLA, said: "This is absolutely tragic news and my thoughts are with both families as they try to come to terms with what has happened.

"Michaela was a friendly and familiar face who was never far from her dad at any Tyrone matches. She will be very much missed and everyone in Tyrone and across Northern Ireland is in shock at present.”

(BMcN/GK)