THE LAWYER FOR one of the men cleared of the murder of Michaela McAreavey has said his client may launch legal action against police.

Sanjeev Teeluckdharry, who acted for Avinash Treebhoowoon during the trial in Mauritius, said no decision had yet been made on whether to seek compensation.

He is due to meet with Treebhoowoon this afternoon, Teeluckdharry said. Treebhoowoon alleged during the trial that he was tortured into confessing to the murder.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Teeluckdharry expressed sympathy for the family of Michaela McAreavey, who he suggested had not yet received justice.

We are very sad for Michaela McAreavey’s family. But we are satisfied that the police have demonstrated incompetence in this matter [...] I’m sorry to say that the Mauritian police force has made the national flag to fly at half mast.

He said the trial had been “an ordeal of 18 months” for his client.

Teeluckdharry called for the investigation into the murder of McAreavey, whose body was found in a bedroom at the five-star Legends hotel during her honeymoon, to be reopened “so we can find justice at the end of the tunnel.”

The lawyer also said he did not regret a line of questioning in which he brought up a sex manual found among McAreavey’s possessions, appearing to suggest that her death may have been an accident.

“We are defence lawyers, we have to explore all possible avenues. We have to put everything in front of the jury,” he said.

These pictures show Treebhoowoon and his fellow defendant Sandip Mooneea celebrating after their acquittal: