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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Antony Thrower

Probe into sick video mocking murder of bride, 27, strangled on her honeymoon

Politicians have slammed a video posted on social media of a group of people appearing to show a group of people mocking the murder of a bride on her honeymoon.

Michaela McAreavey, 27, was strangled in her room at the Legends Hotel in Mauritius in January 2011.

The teacher, who had married husband John 10 days earlier, was attacked after she returned to her room alone and disturbed a burglary.

No-one has been convicted of murdering the daughter of Gaelic football manager Mickey Harte.

The video, uploaded to Facebook and later taken down, is being probed by police.

Politicians from across Northern Ireland have united to condemn the video.

The video was uploaded to Facebook and later taken down (PA Archive/Press Association Images)
No-one has ever been convicted for the murder (PA)

A Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland spokesperson said: "The video currently circulating on social media relating to the murder of Michaela McAreavey is utterly abhorrent and the Orange Institution condemns the content without reservation.

"The behaviour of those involved and their actions have no place in our society and certainly do not reflect the ethos of our organisation.

"The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has instigated an inquiry into the incident and if any of those involved are found to be members of the institution, they will face disciplinary proceedings."

Sinn Fein MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Michelle Gildernew tweeted: "Thank you to everyone who reported this to me tonight.

Lawyer Ng Sui Wa, Mark Harte, widower John McAreavey and his sister Claire during a press conference (PA)

"A beautiful young woman was murdered on honeymoon & this is how loyalists 'celebrate' the Queen's jubilee.

"I have reported this to the PSNI & will be taking further action."

SDLP MLA Justin McNulty wrote on social media: "Fist pumping, table banging, clapping, laughing, jeering - singing a song about the shocking murder of one of the most beautiful people you could ever meet.

"It's so sick and shameful. Thinking about the Harte family who've been so strong and dignified. They do not deserve this."

A PSNI spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed they are aware of the video and are “examining the content to determine if any offences may have been committed."

John McAreavey, widower of murdered honeymooner Michaela McAreavey (PA)

In a statement, Linfield Football Club confirmed it had contacted a girls' academy coach in relation to the video and his "voluntary association with the club has been terminated with immediate effect".

A spokesman for the side said: “Linfield FC apologises to the Harte/McAreavey families for the hurt caused to them by the offensive actions of one of our now former coaches.

"Linfield FC is totally opposed to sectarianism, bigotry, racism, prejudice and all forms of discriminatory behaviour and there can be no place within this club for any of these forms of offensive and unacceptable behaviour."

Construction supplies company Norman Emerson Group also issued a statement to say it was looking into the alleged involvement of an employee and said that a "full and thorough internal investigation" was under way.

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