Crime images 'showed lack of respect'

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has told Ireland’s Ambassador to Mauritius to outline the Government’s concerns to the Mauritian authorities about what appeared to be the leaking of evidential material from the Michaela McAreavey murder trial to a local newspaper.

Mr Gilmore met with Ambassador Brendan McMahon in Dublin this afternoon.

Afterwards he said he was shocked by the decision by the Mauritian Sunday Times to publish photographs of the crime scene and Ms McAreavey’s remains.

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

The newspaper has no connections to any British or Irish publication. Mr Gilmore said Mr McMahon would also make inquiries about what further actions will be undertaken by the authorities in Mauritius to investigate the murder.

“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.”

Mr Gilmore said he had spoken to John McAreavey, who he believed supported the Government’s actions. He said he had not seen the photographs and did not want to see them. Looking at them would be an invasion of privacy, he said.

“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 Mr McMahon would be conveying a “strong protest” from the Government to the Mauritian authorities.

John McAreavey returned to Ireland at the weekend from Mauritius where on Thursday two former hotel workers were acquitted of the murder of his wife Michaela (27) – daughter of Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte – while the couple were on honeymoon in January 2011.

He and other members of the McAreavey and Harte families learned that black and white pictures from the hotel crime scene, including images of Ms McAreavey, were included in the Mauritian Sunday Times.

The newspaper, which has no connections to any British or Irish publication, carried a picture of Ms McAreavey, taken after she was murdered, on its front page. There were more pictures from the crime scene inside the edition which included images of Ms McAreavey’s injuries.

The McAreavey and Harte families issued a statement that publication of the pictures was “reprehensible and repugnant”.

The families said that as they came to terms with the trial result the publication was “not only insensitive to their grief but it marks another low in the treatment of John, the two families and the dignity of Michaela. The Mauritian authorities need now to match their words with actions and ensure that insensitive reporting . . . does not further exacerbate the violation of Michaela and the hurt to John.”

Dick Ng Sui Wa, the Mauritian lawyer for John McAreavey said he will take up the issue with the country’s Director of Public Prosecutions and commissioner of police. He called for an inquiry into how the newspaper got hold of them.

Former hotel cleaners Avinash Treebhoowoon (32) and Sandip Moneea (43), who were unanimously acquitted on Thursday of the murder, are due to speak at a press conference today.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said publication was “an outrageous abuse” that could not be justified.