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John McAreavey offers €50,000 reward in Mauritius for information on his wife's murder

McAreavey has travelled to Mauritius in an attempt to kickstart the investigation into his wife’s murder on their honeymoon in 2011.

Michaela McAreavey case John McAreavey (r), and Mark Harte at this morning's news conference in Port Louis, Mauritius PA PA

THE HUSBAND OF murdered Irish honeymooner Michaela McAreavey has offered a reward in Mauritius for information on his wife’s killer.

John McAreavey has travelled to the island off the coast of southern Africa in an attempt to re-ignite the investigation into Michaela’s murder in their hotel room in January 2011.

No one has ever been successfully prosecuted for her killing.

McAreavey today, at a news conference in the Mauritian capital of Port Louis, offered a reward of two million Mauritian rupees (about €53,000) for information on the murder, the BBC reports.

The sum equates to roughly twice the average salary of the island nation.

“We believe we have given the Mauritian authorities every chance to deliver on their very public promise that justice would be done,” McAreavey said today.

“However, until this visit, the reality falls far short of that and as the years have passed, it appears that the unofficial policy has become one of ‘out of sight, out of mind’.

But we have no intention of just slipping out of mind or sight.

“Mauritius is a country I have absolutely nothing against,” he told the BBC.

But the reality is that my deepest darkest fears and nightmares came to reality here, so whenever you’re actually back here, it’s not easy.

An anonymous phone service has been established to allow people with information to contact the Mauritian authorities.

McAreavey, together with his sister Claire and Michaela’s brother Mark, has already met with the Mauritian prime minister and police chiefs.

Yesterday, in advance of meeting McAreavey, the Director of Public Prosecutions of Mauritius stated that the now six-year investigation into the Co Tyrone woman’s 2011 murder remains open.

Two hotel workers were charged with the murder of Michaela in her hotel room at the four-star Legends resort in January 2011, but both were acquitted following a subsequent trial by jury in 2012.

Since the acquittal of the two hotel workers, there have been a number of developments in the case. Laws have changed in Mauritius which would allow retrials for the men if “compelling” new evidence comes to light. Some of the exhibits of evidence have also been sent to specialist a DNA testing facility in France.

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12 Comments
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    Mute Mary Cullinane
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    Apr 4th 2017, 12:18 PM

    Hopefully the saying “money talks” will prove true in this case. What an awful place for both the Harte and McAreavey families to be in and no closure in sight as regards finding out who is guilty of this unbelievable crime. I can only imagine the torment they are going through every day since it happened, especially Michaela’s parents who at this age of their lives should be enjoying peaceful and happy lives and not enduring this awful torment and heartache.

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    Mute Soccer T's
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    Apr 4th 2017, 1:02 PM

    This is not the answer. Corruption will probably lead to some innocent person being convicted while an official lines their own pocket.

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    Mute kevin
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    Apr 4th 2017, 12:59 PM

    The justice system over there is a shambles. I fear the killers have got away with murder. But I really hope not.

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    Mute B-bob
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    Apr 4th 2017, 1:35 PM

    Can’t imagine the police system is any worse or any less corrupt than here in Ireland ,
    Current issues with our system is just the tip of the iceberg I reckon

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    Mute Thosj Carroll
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    Apr 4th 2017, 1:06 PM

    Five years & no one was charged with her murder. It was supposed some of hotel workers were traced by DNA before being charged for murder but none happened. Mauritian couldn’t even arrest their own citizens. How strange!

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    Mute Ben McArthur
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    Apr 4th 2017, 1:11 PM

    @Thosj Carroll: What are you talking about? They charged two hotel workers, who were acquitted at trial. It’s right there in the article.

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Apr 4th 2017, 12:46 PM

    I doubt that a flawed and less than objective criminal law enforcement system will provide any resolution.

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    Mute Karen Doyle
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    Apr 4th 2017, 4:36 PM

    Id say there only chance of a conviction was in the last case which was botched by the police.

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    Mute Karen Doyle
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    Apr 4th 2017, 4:39 PM

    @Karen Doyle: Of note, they changed the law which meant that existing suspects who had been on trial and were not convicted can be sent again if compelling evidence comes to light. Which suggests that the powers that be know who did this.

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    Mute Joan Sexton
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    Apr 4th 2017, 11:33 PM

    I have no idea of how the families coped with such torment. It is so hard on John to be there where he has to relive the ordeal. Pg they will get justice soon. Our prayers are with them.

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    Mute Joan Sexton
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    Apr 4th 2017, 11:49 PM

    I just do not know how John coped with the sorrow he had to insure out there, so little time with his beautiful wife and the horror he had befall him, not forgetting the Harte family. Pg they will get justice for her. Our prayers are with them.

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    Mute Brendan Crowe
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    Apr 5th 2017, 6:48 AM

    And why was there a packed suitcase outside the room that was moved inside by the police.. Total botch job

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