STATEMENT:MICHAELA HARTE'S husband John McAreavey said yesterday he was "heartbroken" by her death. "Words have no meaning. Our hopes, our dreams and our future together are gone," he said in a statement.
“I am heartbroken and like Mickey, Marian, Michaela’s brothers and my family, I am totally devastated. I am numbed. I love my wife very, very much and my world revolved around her. I can’t describe in words how lost I feel as Michaela is not just the light of my life – she is my life.
“I appreciate all the prayers and messages of support. I pray that God gives us the strength and faith that Michaela has, to cope with our horrific loss.
“She is a gift from God and I now have an angel.”
The statement concluded: “Our families now need the time, privacy and space to make the necessary arrangements to take Michaela home.”
A Facebook page of condolences for Ms Harte which opened up on Monday had attracted almost 11,000 responses by yesterday. Books of condolences were also opened in Omagh and Dungannon and other Co Tyrone towns yesterday.
The lord mayor of Cork Michael O’Connell announced the opening of a book of condolences at the city council offices on Anglesea Street yesterday. “I feel it is appropriate to give the people of Cork the opportunity to express their sympathy and support of the Harte and McAreavey families at this difficult time,” he said said.
Mauritian tourism minister Nando Bodha referred to the arrival yesterday of Michaela’s brother Mark and Brian McAreavey to be with John. He said everything would be done to enable Michaela’s body to be returned home as soon as possible.
An Irish consular representative said they were working to secure the repatriation of the body. “We are trying to get her home and we are working hard to make it happen as soon as possible. We are hoping to make progress on this issue in the near future,” the official said.