Tarnished reputation

A 95-year-old Irish priest who has lived most of his life in Mauritius said he fears the murder of Michaela McAreavey will tarnish the holiday island’s hospitable reputation.

The concerns of Fr Bernard Farrelly, pictured, appear to be borne out in part by the latest visitor figures on arrivals from Ireland.

However, while 22% fewer Irish are now travelling to the Indian Ocean island in the wake of the crime, overall tourism rates continue to go in the other direction. For the first time Mauritius is forecast to attract more than one million visitors this year — up 3.1% on 2011.