Michaela 'never happier than on wedding day'

Michaela Harte was never happier than on the day she got married, the Harte family's local parish priest has said.

Fr Gerard McAleer, a life-long friend of Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte, who concelebrated his only daughter's wedding Mass to Down senior footballer John McAreavey on December 30, was speaking after confirmation that Michaela was strangled in her hotel room while on honeymoon in Mauritius.

“I can honestly say – and I have seen Michaela from the day she was born – I don’t think I have ever seen her more at peace with herself or more radiant or more content (than on her wedding day),” he said.

“She was just everything that a human being could be, she personified all that was good and beautiful about a human being. There wasn’t a single cynical thought in her head.”

Fr McAleer said the young teacher was the one Mr Harte looked for when Tyrone won a game.

“She would be the first person he would hug when that final whistle would go,” he said.

The Donaghmore parish priest added: “I have exhausted the vocabulary in the last few hours and most of the night. I don’t want to use cliches but we are just broken-hearted, bewildered.”

GAA president Christy Cooney offered the organisation's sympathies to both the Harte and McAreavey families.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Michaela’s family and the wider Harte family, her husband John and the McAreaveys at this tragic time,” he said.

“Michaela was a familiar face to so many GAA followers up and down the country, having been at her father’s side through what has been the most memorable period in the history of the GAA in Tyrone.”

Mr Cooney praised the positive image the GAA fan portrayed of the association.

“Her radiant smile, passion for life and interest in all things Gaelic were immediately obvious to anyone who crossed her path and the loss to those who loved her most must be incalculable at this most difficult time,” he said.

“Her presence at not only football matches but in so many areas of life will be sadly missed at a time when she and her husband should have been planning a bright future together.

“The tragic timing and circumstances makes the loss even worse and the condolences of the Association are offered to her loved ones.”

Michaela taught Irish at St Patrick's Girls' Academy in Dungannon. She was a former Rose of Tralee contestant, a huge Tyrone GAA fan and her father's number one fan.

Friends of the team manager and his wife Marian said the couple were devoted to their only daughter, who wed at St Malachy’s Church, Ballymacilroy, on December 30.