Michaela wake continues in Ballygawley

Hundreds more mourners are set to pay their respects to murdered honeymooner Michaela McAreavey as a public wake in the tragic teacher's family home enters a second day.

People from across Ireland travelled to the small village of Ballygawley, Co Tyrone yesterday to pass on their sympathies to the newlywed's devastated widower John and her grieving parents - Tyrone Gaelic football team manager Mickey Harte and his wife Marian.

Such were the numbers wishing to sympathise with the Harte and McAreavey families a park-and-ride facility from designated car parks was set up to take people to the house on the outskirts of the village.

The North's first and deputy first ministers were among those who visited.

Democratic Unionist Peter Robinson and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were joined by Sports minister Nelson McCausland, Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and Justice Committee chairman Maurice Morrow.

That four of the Stormont delegation visiting the home of a celebrated Gaelic games family were DUP representatives said much for the changed political climate in Northern Ireland.

Mrs McAreavey's body was brought to the house on Friday night, ending the long journey from Mauritius where she was strangled on Monday after disturbing thieves robbing her room in the luxury Legends Hotel.

The funeral of the 27-year-old will take place tomorrow at the nearby St Malachy's chapel, where she married sweetheart John just over two weeks ago.

Irish President Mary McAleese will join a string of other dignitaries at the requiem.

Three employees of the hotel have been charged in connection with the death, two with murder and one with conspiracy to murder.

One of the murder accused, room attendant Avinash Treebhoowoon (aged 29, has reportedly confessed to the killing.

His co-accused, floor supervisor Sandip Moneea (aged 41) has made no such admission.

It is understood Treebhoowoon admitted the crime to officers after the third accused, and fellow room attendant Raj Theekoy (aged 33) made a statement implicating him and Moneea.

Theekoy is charged with conspiracy because he allegedly passed along the corridor outside the room while the struggle was taking place but, despite hearing screams, did nothing to stop it and failed to report it.

Skin tissue found under Mrs McAreavey's fingernails could prove crucial to the police case against the two accused with the results of DNA tests due in the coming days.