17/01/2011

Thousands Attend Michaela's Funeral

The funeral of Michaela McAreavey, the daughter of Tyrone Gaelic football boss Mickey Harte, has taken place.

Thousands of mourners attended the funeral, including Irish president Mary McAleese and Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

The Funeral Mass began at 1230 GMT.

Mrs McAreavey, 27, was found strangled in her hotel room in Mauritius a week ago.

Three men have been charged with murder and are currently remanded in police custody. Room attendant Avinash Treebhoowoon, 29, and floor supervisor Sandip Moneea, 41, have been charged with murder, and room attendant Raj Theekoy, 33, with conspiracy to murder.

The funeral was held at St Malachy's in Ballymacilroy, County Tyrone, the church where she married John McAreavey on 30 December.

A marquee for 300 people was erected in the church grounds to cope with some of the overspill from the 400-capacity chapel.

Those who attended included: senior Gaelic Athletic Association officials, including President Christy Cooney and Ulster Secretary Danny Murphy, President of the Ulster rugby branch Nigel Hamilton and Irish Football Association President Jim Shaw.

Players from Mr Harte's Tyrone team and his home club, Errigal Ciaran, formed a guard of honour as Mrs McAreavey's coffin was taken from her home.

Pupils from the late Irish teacher's form class in St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon, and players from Mr McAreavey's Tullylish GAA club in County Down accompanied the coffin into the church.

Mr McAreavey's uncle, Bishop John McAreavey, who married the couple conducted the funeral mass.

Sean Brady, Primate of the Catholic Church in Ireland, also took part in the service.

(BMcN/GK)


Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

18 January 2011
Michaela's Family Robbed By An 'Evil Act'
Northern Ireland's Harte family have lost their "precious daughter", and her husband has been "robbed of his beautiful wife" by an "evil act", said Bishop John McAreavey at the funeral service of Michaela McAreavey.
14 January 2011
Body Of Michaela McAreavey Arrives Home
The body of Michaela McAreavey has now arrived home to Northern Ireland. Members of the Harte and McAreavey families met with the plane carrying her body at George Best Belfast City Airport. Michaela, 27, the daughter of Tyrone Gaelic Football Manager Mickey Harte, was found strangled on Monday while on honeymoon.
11 January 2011
Michaela Harte Strangled On Honeymoon
Mauritius police have confirmed that Michaela Harte, the daughter of Tyrone Gaelic Football Manager Mickey Harte, was strangled. The 27-year-old Irish woman, was found dead while on honeymoon at the Legends hotel in Mauritius.
17 June 2009
Beachy Head Jump Family Funeral To Be Held
The funeral service for a Wiltshire couple who jumped off a cliff in Eastbourne following the death of their disabled child, is to take place today. Neil, 34, and Kazumi Puttick, 44, leapt to their death from the cliff tops at Beachy Head, East Sussex, with the body of their five-year-old son Sam in a rucksack on 1 June.
13 January 2011
Accused 'Confesses To Harte Murder'
Police in Mauritius have alleged that one of the three men charged in connection to the killing of Michaela Harte has confessed to the killing. Avinash Treebhoowoon, 29, appeared in court on Wednesday, along with Sandip Moneea, 41, and Raj Theekoy, 33.