Michaela funeral plans revealed

Friday, 14 January 2011

Suspect Avinash Treebhoowoon (29) is brought to Mapou Court, Port Louis Mauritius, Wednesday, Jan.12, 2011. The room attendant has been charged with the murder of Michaela McAreavey.

Relatives of the murdered Irish honeymooner Michaela McAreavey have said the support they have received is helping them through their "darkest of days".

They also confirmed plans for her funeral on Monday, after the body of the 27-year-old teacher completes the tragic journey home to Co Tyrone, following her brutal murder in Mauritius.

Tributes have been paid from across Ireland, and internationally, to the daughter of renowned Co Tyrone GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) manager Mickey Harte, after she was killed within days of marrying her sweetheart John McAreavey.

The Harte and McAreavey families issued a joint statement thanking friends, relatives and the public for support, and detailing funeral arrangements at the small Roman Catholic church where she only recently celebrated her wedding.

The families said: "We are all grateful for the prayers and support we have received from all parts of Ireland, the UK and across the world. This support has helped sustain us physically, emotionally and spiritually through these darkest of days.

"The distance from Mauritius has only increased our sense of isolation and separation from our beloved Michaela and her husband John. Now as two heartbroken and devastated families, together we can share our grief and our love for Michaela and provide support and comfort to John.

"As Michaela returns home we respectfully ask for full privacy to allow our two families, united in sorrow, to have the space and time to spend with a much loved wife, daughter and sister. Therefore the wake and private family service on the evening of Friday January 14 will be for immediate family only."

The two bereaved families said Thursday marked the "the final stage of Michaela's journey home" and that she was accompanied by her widower John, brother Mark, her father-in-law Brendan and brother-in-law Brian.

The grieving party will fly into Belfast, after which the families said Mrs McAreavey's body will be brought directly to a nearby funeral parlour for a private removal service.

Later she will be brought back to the Harte home at Glencull Road, Ballygawley for a private family service.