Friends and supporters share grief of Harte family after daughter's death

The friends, family and supporters of the Harte family have rallied to support them after Mickey Harte's daughter Michaela died while on honeymoon in Mauritius.

Emergency services were called to her hotel, where she had been staying with her husband.

Michaela Harte, 27, married John McAreavey, a Down GAA footballer just after Christmas. They started their honeymoon by flying to Dubai.

The honeymoon couple were staying at Legends Hotel in the fishing village of Grand Gaube, not far from Grand Bay, in the north-eastern corner of Mauritius.

Hotel resident manager Xavier Arnoux said a body was found in a hotel room at around 3pm local time (11am Irish time).

“We had an accident this afternoon, but we cannot speak too much about it because it is in police hands now,” he said. “It appears that a husband found the body of his wife.”

Mr Arnoux said a doctor was called to the scene, as were police. This is standard procedure in the event of a dead person being discovered, he said.

A Foreign Affairs spokesman said an official from the Irish embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, was travelling to Mauritius.

The official is expected to arrive at the scene tomorrow morning.

Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, said he was shocked at the death.

“Just a matter of days ago it was a joyous occasion when Michaela married John and no doubt they planned a long and happy life together,” he said.

“They had so much to live for but now their hopes have been cruelly dashed by the tragic death of Michaela.

“Michaela was always close to her father’s side during many great days for Tyrone football.

“Her enthusiasm for her native county, for which she was an excellent ambassador, knew no bounds.

“My thoughts and prayers are with her husband John, father Mickey, mother Marian and the entire Harte and McAreavey families at this difficult time.”

In a statement Legends Hotel said: "The management of Legends Hotel is shocked and very sad further to the death of a guest, Michaela Harte."

The couple, who had only arrived on the island last Saturday, had been due to stay until next Sunday.

“The dead body of the guest was discovered by her partner and once alerted, the hotel called the authorities,” the hotel said.

“Legends wishes to reassure its guests and the public in general that it is co-operating in the best way it can with the police.

“The management and staff send its sincere condolences to the families who are grieving the loss of Michaela Harte.”