FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:THE REMAINS of Michaela Harte are due back at her home just outside Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, at about lunchtime today.
Her body, placed in a coffin draped in pink, was released to relatives in Mauritius yesterday and left on board an overnight flight to London accompanied by her widower John McAreavey, her brother Mark, and Mr McAreavey’s brother Brian. They will then transfer to a Belfast flight.
Mr McAreavey will have to return to Mauritius to give evidence in the trial of the three men charged in connection with her death, Mauritian police said yesterday. Police Commissioner Dhun Iswar Rampersad said: “We have asked him to be kind enough to make himself available. It will also be his duty to return to Mauritius for the trial to help secure prosecution.”
The remains had been kept at a mortuary in Quatre Bornes, a town 30km from the capital Port Louis. They were removed to Sir Seewoosagar Ramgoolam International Airport yesterday where her family were waiting for her.
It is understood John McAreavey’s father also arrived in Mauritius yesterday, breaking off a holiday in Thailand to be with his son.
The Harte family were last night finalising arrangements for her funeral Mass which will most likely be celebrated on Monday at the same church where the couple married on December 30th last. A wake is expected to be held over the weekend.
Fr Gerard McAleer, a close family friend who baptised Ms Harte and two weeks ago concelebrated the couple’s wedding Mass, said he expected she would be buried in the small cemetery adjacent to St Malachy’s Church, Ballymacilroy. The church is a short distance from the Harte family home in Glencull.
The Tyrone county board of the GAA last night confirmed it had called off its first round match against Fermanagh in the Dr McKenna Cup. The match had been scheduled for Brewster Park in Enniskillen for 2pm on Sunday.
Books of condolence have been opened in public buildings across Tyrone and thousands of sympathisers, some of them wearing Tyrone colours, have turned out to record their signatures.