Ambassador instructed to lodge 'strong protest'

TÁNAISTE AND Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore has instructed Ireland’s Ambassador to Mauritius to convey a “strong protest” to Mauritian authorities after photographs of the murdered body of Michaela McAreavey were published last weekend.

Mr Gilmore held a meeting with Ambassador to Mauritius Brendan McMahon in Dublin yesterday. Speaking afterwards, he said he was shocked by a Mauritian newspaper’s “disgraceful” decision to publish images of the crime scene and Ms McAreavey’s injuries.

“It shows total lack of respect both to her memory and the feelings of her family, who have already suffered so much,” said Mr Gilmore.

He said Mr McMahon would travel to Mauritius in the coming days to outline the Government’s concerns. “The Ambassador will in the first instance convey a strong protest to the Mauritian authorities about what appears to be the leaking of evidential material to the local media there,” said the Tánaiste.

He added that the complaint would be expressed in strong terms and characterised it as a “formal government-to-government protest”.

The newspaper that published the images, the Mauritian Sunday Times, has no connections to any British or Irish publication.

Mr Gilmore said Mr McMahon would also make inquiries as to what further action will be undertaken by authorities in Mauritius to investigate the murder. The Tánaiste said he had spoken to Ms McAreavey’s husband John, who he believed supported the Government’s actions.

“While we fully respect the court process and do not wish to do anything that might prejudice any further proceedings, I am very concerned that an urgent examination of the case be undertaken to ensure that justice will be seen to be done for Michaela, John and their families,” said Mr Gilmore.

He added that he had not seen the photographs and did not want to see them as looking at them would be an invasion of privacy. “This was evidence that was used in the trial. I believe that the Mauritian authorities have a responsibility to ensure that that evidence did not come into the hands of the media.”

He said the images should not be reproduced by “any self-respecting organ of the media”.

The impact of the publication on Ms McAreavey’s husband, family and friends should be considered. “I think we have to make clear our objection . . . the second issue then is the further investigation of the murder.”