Anger over leaked photos
There was widespread condemnation following the publication of the photographs yesterday in Mauritius’s Sunday Times.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the Government will lodge a formal complaint with the government of Mauritius.
The French-language newspaper published a photo of Mrs McAreavy’s body on its front page, labelled “exclusive”.
It also published 11 black and white crime scene images over two pages inside showing:
* A full-length photo of her dead body, dressed in a bikini and sarong, lying on the floor;
* Two close-up images of the injuries to her neck;
* Photos of the room where she and husband John were staying;
* Other photos showing the bath where she was strangled, the entrance to the hotel, and the door to the couple’s hotel room.
An editorial in the newspaper defended the decision to publish the photographs, saying the public had a “perfectly legitimate right” to have “an exact picture of the crime scene” and “the condition in which the corpse was found”.
It then went on to focus on what it viewed as a tear in the sarong worn by Mrs McAreavey, which it says was not sent to the forensic scientist at Cellmark in England to carry out DNA testing.
Her widower, John, became aware of the existence of the images yesterday morning, through the media.
A statement issued on behalf of the McAreavey and Harte families later described the newspaper’s decision to publish the shots as “reprehensible”.
It said: “As the families struggle to come to terms with the result from the trial, this reprehensible and repugnant action by this newspaper is not only insensitive to their grief but it marks another low in the treatment of John, the two families and the dignity of Michaela.
“The Mauritian authorities need now to match their words with actions and ensure that insensitive reporting by newspapers within their jurisdiction does not further exacerbate the violation of Michaela and the hurt to John.”
However, sources close to the family said John was extremely worried that the photographs would eventually emerge on the internet.
Dick Ng Sui Wa, the McAreavey’s lawyer in Mauritius, said he would be taking action.
“This is something that should never have been published in any news-paper. I intend to write to the commission of police for an inquiry and for them to take the necessary police action that will be needed.”
He said he felt the country had let the family down but added that the newspaper, which it is understood has been in circulation for around six months, has quite a small readership.
Last night, Sanjeev Teeluckdharry, who represented Avinash Treebhoowon, who along with Sandip Mooneea was acquitted of the murder last Thursday, said the publication of the images was “unethical”.
“I am not aware of this matter and I have not seen the photographs but it is not ethical for a newspaper to publish these types of photo- graphs,” he said.
“They have been produced in connection with a trial and I don’t think it is for the press to delve into such matters. It is an invasion of the privacy of the family.”
He declined to comment on the implications the publication of the photographs could have on any future probe into the murder.
Mr Teeluckdharry will call on the Mauritian authorities today to open a new investigation in the case. He is due to hold a press conference later which he said will deal with matters relating to the police investigation into the murder.
Mehdi Manrakhan, the chief state prosecutor in the case, said: “I haven’t seen the photographs but I don’t know why they would do that except to cause more grief to the families.”
The Taoiseach, who expressed his disgust at the publication of the photos, said the Government would lodge a formal complaint “in the strongest possible terms” with the government of Mauritius.
Tánaiste and Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore, will meet ambassador to Mauritius Brendan McMahon today to discuss the publication of the images.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
