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.

Thousands of mourners attended Michaela's funeral yesterday at St Malachy's in Ballymacilroy, Co Tyrone, the church where she married John McAreavey on 30 December.

Mrs McAreavey, 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.

Those who attended the funeral included Irish President Mary McAleese and Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness.

Her father, Tyrone GAA Manager Mickey Harte, husband John and her three brothers helped carry the 27-year-old's coffin.

Players from Mr McAreavey's local football club, Tullylish in Co Down, and Michaela's form class at St Patrick's Academy in Dungannon formed a guard of honour outside.

Tyrone senior gaelic football team members and local club Errigal Ciaran, which Mr Harte used to manage, provided the first guard of honour from her parents' home to the church.

Bishop McAreavey, and Cardinal Seán Brady, presided over the funeral in Glencull.

In the homily, he said Michaela was remembered for and as a "Tyrone woman through and through."

He continued: "The first love in Michaela's life was of the love of her parents, Mickey and Marian, and her brothers, Mark, Michael and Mattie.

"As everybody knows, Michaela was close to her dad and through him became part of a wide circle of friends in Tyrone and in the GAA family throughout Ireland."

A Pioneer pin and rosary beads representing Micheala's abstinence from alcohol and her strong Catholic faith were placed at the altar close to her ornate coffin.

Her passion for the Irish language and games also featured as a jersey of her beloved county team, Tyrone, and the Fáinne emblem worn by speakers of the language placed on the altar.

A rose symbolising beauty and love, long associated with St Thérèse of Liseaux, the French saint who received an early calling to religious life, completed the offerings.

Bishop McAreavey added: "Today we also need to somehow face the darkness of these days.

"An evil act ended Michaela's young life last Monday; it robbed John of his beautiful wife; it deprived the Harte family of their precious daughter and sister; it deprived the McAreavey family of the daughter-in-law they looked forward to having; it shattered hopes and dreams for the future."

"Even those of us who are older and who have had some experience of tragedy have been shaken to the core by what has happened. We are still in a state of shock."

Other attendees included senior officials from the GAA, and the Bishop of Down and Dromore, Harold Miller, and Bishop of Derry and Raphoe Ken Good.

First Minister Peter Robinson led the tributes to Michaela at Stormont.

The former Ulster Rose of Tralee was buried in her wedding dress in a small graveyard next to the church where she married last month.

(BMcN)