McAreavey family dismayed after newspaper publishes pictures of Michaela's body

The family of murder victim Michaela McAreavey have issued a statement after a newspaper in Mauritius today published photographs of the crime scene at the Legends Hotel, including images of Michaela's body.

It comes just days after two workers at the hotel were cleared of her murder.

The 12 black-and-white images were published this morning in a newspaper in Mauritius called the Sunday Times, a paper with no connection to any British or Irish company,

On the front page there is a photograph of Michaela McAreavey taken after her death, under the headline 'Exclusive'.

Inside, there are more close-up pictures of her injuries.

It is still unknown who took the photographs or who gave them to the newspaper.

In a statement issued this afternoon from the McAreavey and Harte families said: “As the families struggle to come with the result from the trial - this action by the newspaper is not only insensitive to their grief but marks another low in the treatment of John, the two families and the dignity of Michaela.”

The move was also criticised by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who branded the pictures "an appalling invasion of privacy".

He said that the Government will be lodging a formal complaint with the Government of Mauritius.