Tyrone manager Mickey Hartes daughter Michaela found dead on honeymoon

BREAKING NEWS: STAFF AT the luxury hotel where tragic Michaela Harte was on honeymoon tried desperately for half an hour to save her life.

There has been profound sadness across Donegal after the news that Michaela, daughter of Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte, has died suddenly while in Marituis.

The bubbly schoolteacher, 27, could regularly be seen at many inter-county games and was a regular visitor to Donegal.

She had recently married Co Down footballer John McArevey on December 30th and the pair had travelled for a sun-kissed holiday to the famous island in the Indian Ocean.

It is still unclear how Michaela, a former Rose of Tralee contestant, died.

She went upstairs to rest and make a cup of tea but when she failed to re-appear, her husband became concerned and discovered her body in their room.

A hotel porter was nearby at the time. A second member of staff was then summoned. He went straight to the room and immediately tried to resuscitate the young teacher for half an hour by giving her mouth-to-mouth and heart massage.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out, but it is not immediately clear how she died.

The staff member consoled her husband, who made a statement to investigating police.

Afterwards he said: “John is far from home, far from his family and in a country where he does not know anybody. I am just here to provide as much help as I can. This is a terrible situation. He needs support.”

Mrs McAreavey’s father said in a statement that she had been “killed”.

Staff at the hotel claimed she died as a result of “an accident”.

The uncle of John McArevey, the Bishop of Dromore John McAreavey, and Mickey Harte asked for prayers for Michaela, John and their families and loved ones.

Bishop McAreavey also aroused suspicions after he said the family could not rule out the theory that Michaela could have beenmurdered by someone outside of both families.

“Both families are deeply shocked and devastated by this tragic news and they ask for privacy and space at this time of profound grief,” they said in the statement.

Father Brian Hackett, the family priest, said: “Her big thing was her daddy being the manager of Tyrone. She went everywhere with him. She was a religious girl. She was a dedicated Tyrone supporter.

Legends Hotel, where the couple were staying, said Michaela was discovered by her husband.
“The management of Legends Hotel is shocked and very sad further to the death of a guest, Michaela Harte.”
“The dead body of the guest was discovered by her partner and once alerted, the hotel called the authorities,” the hotel said.
“Legends wishes to reassure its guests and the public in general that it is co-operating in the best way it can with the police.”
The Tyrone GAA County Board paid tribute to Michaela.
“Michaela and indeed the wider Harte family of Marian, Mark, Michael and Matthew have been very closely associated with the present senior football team since Mickey took over as Tyrone minor manager in 1991.
“This tragedy will be sorely felt throughout the Tyrone GAA family.”
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has expressed shock at the sudden death.
“Michaela was always close to her father’s side during many great days for Tyrone football. Her enthusiasm for her native county, for which she was an excellent ambassador, knew no bounds”, he said.
“My thoughts and prayers are with her husband John, father Mickey, mother Marian and the entire Harte and McAreavey families at this difficult time.”

Gucky wrote: »

Lets hope for all concerned that at the very least, it was not foul play.

DowntoEarth wrote: »

Main Mauritian newspaper report they have a suspect. Note, this report is in French.

http://www.lematinal.com/faits-divers/9465-Une-Irlandaise-de-28-ans-Michaela-Harte-tuee-dans-un-htel-5-etoiles-lundi.html

macquarie wrote: »

My french is a bit rusty but that article seems to suggest there was blood found in the bathroom and she has marks on her neck, and the police have arrested the husband on suspicion. I'm open to correction though!

It is her husband, John Brian Mc Areavey, aged thirty years, who gave the warning after discovering the victim's body near his bathtub.

General Manager Brice Lunot, accompanied by Dr. Sunnassee, hotel doctor, he had administered first aid but it was too late. Meanwhile, police and emergency workers were informed of the death suspicious.

Elements of the Scene of Crime Office, visited the places identified traces of blood in the bath room and the victim showed signs of strangulation on the neck.

An autopsy by the Chief Police Medical Officer, Dr Sudesh Kumar Gungadin, assisted by Dr. Baichoo, confirmed this view.

That's when detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division and that of the Major Crimes Investigating Team have arrested the husband. During his interrogation, he said he was on honeymoon with his wife after the knot last week.

The couple was in Mauritius from January 8 and would have had to fly a few days later.

Police said the couple had an argument on Sunday, but Brian has suggested that the day of the tragedy, he took his lunch and only by entering the room he noticed that his wife was dead.

In addition, police found no trace of forced entry, but they suspect the presence of a third person in this case. The viewing of cameras from the hotel should clarify this issue.

Reportedly, in the afternoon of Monday, the husband had asked a hotel employee to find a priest, and investigators interested in the reason for such request. At the time of going to press, detectives questioned the suspect still on the premises of the CID of Piton.

macquarie wrote: »

My french is a bit rusty but that article seems to suggest there was blood found in the bathroom and she has marks on her neck, and the police have arrested the husband on suspicion. I'm open to correction though!

midlandsmissus wrote: »

No forced entry
She was rowing with some-one
Some-one asked for a priest on the day of murder.

It's what I thought from the beginning. But innocent until proven guilty.

I'm trying to be very careful in what I say here!