JOHN McAreavey, whose wife Michaela was murdered on their honeymoon in Mauritius, marked the 12th anniversary of her killing yesterday by vowing to continue to fight for justice.
Two men, both employees at the hotel where she was found dead, were acquitted in 2012 of her murder.
In a message posted on social media, Mr McAreavey, who has since remarried and has two children, said: “We will still push for and expect justice, but we are still waiting.”
Sandip Moneea, now 52, and Avinash Treebhoowoon, now 41, were acquitted by a jury swayed by the lack of DNA evidence and accusations of forced confessions.
Further, there was evidence of a telephone call made by Mr Moneea to his sister around the time of the murder.
The couple were on their honeymoon and staying at the Legends Hotel on the Indian Ocean island. Mrs McAreavey (27), the daughter for former Tyrone manager, was strangled in the couple’s room on January 10, 2011, ten days after their wedding.
Prosecutors claimed at trial the two accused were in the room and stealing from the couple when they were disturbed by Mrs McAreavey.
Police in Mauritius announced in mid-2021 they were going to review the murder following many years of campaigning by Mr McAreavey and after lobbying by local politicians, including then First and Deputy First
Ministers Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill.
Two arrests were made last year by the McAreavey murder team, including Sandip Moneea. He and another hotel employee, security guard Dassen Narayanen, were accused of larceny.
The charge against Mr Moneea was later dropped, his lawyer said.