THE MCAREAVEY AND Harte families are pursuing legal action against the Mauritius hotel in which Michaela McAreavey was murdered last year.
Speaking to Ray D’arcy on TodayFM this morning, John McAreavey said the families would continue to pursue legal action but he was reluctant to be drawn any further on the matter.
“We are pursuing that,” he said when asked about reports of a lawsuit against the former Legends (now Lux) Hotel. “We’ll just have to see what happens on that front.”
Weekend newspapers revealed a £1.3 million claim by the families. The case is expected to be heard at Mauritius’s Supreme Court on 15 November. Any monies won will be used to fund the Michaela Foundation.
According to BBC News, the fixed damages and expenses are the cost of the funeral, flights, legal services and professional counselling. The remainder is on projected earnings and moral damages.
The 27-year-old schoolteacher was killed at the hotel while on honeymoon in January 2011. Two former employees were found not guilty of her murder following a lengthy trial over the summer.
John McAreavey was joined by the victim’s father Mickey Harte for today’s interview. They were in studio to promote an upcoming fundraising event for the foundation set up in memory of Michaela.
The Match for Michaela will be played between All-Ireland champions Donegal and the best of Ulster on Saturday, 3 November at Casement Park. The pair said they were delighted the Ulster Council had decided to host the game.
Harte said that his family continue to grieve in their own way.
“We have strength that comes from her but that doesn’t mean we don’t grieve or don’t cry. We’re also able to continue to live, continue to laugh. It is not disrespectful to try and live again, to try and laugh again,” he said.
“The biggest thing is that she’s still a big part of our lives,” added John. “We miss her dearly.
“I was always the one who was planning and thinking about the future. But I got good advice last year to think about today and when tomorrow comes, take that as well. I’m trying not to plan too far ahead of myself…Now I have a different map. I don’t know where it’s going to take me.
“The big man upstairs will guide me, and sure Michaela will be there anyway.”
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