A family united in grief

AS a thousand footsteps halted behind him, John McAreavey tilted his head and kissed the coffin of his bride. He paused for a moment, not wishing to let go, then rubbed the wood panel as if saying goodbye.

Finally he relinquished his grip and fell into the arms of his wife Michaela’s heartbroken father Mickey Harte as they watched the remains of their special girl placed into the hearse and taken onward to St Malachy’s chapel.

Two weeks ago he was waiting for her inside the church as she made the same short journey from the Harte family home on the Glencull Road.