THE FATHER of murdered Irish woman Michaela Harte says he is keeping his distance from the legal proceedings under way in Mauritius.
Mickey Harte was in Limerick last night where he spoke at a prayer service in Moyross as part of the novena celebrations.
The Tyrone football manager addressed hundreds of people at Corpus Christi Church where prayers were said to mark the passing of loved ones, in particular young people.
When asked beforehand about the ongoing pre-trial proceedings in Mauritius, Mr Harte said: “I’m detached from that. To me, that is another issue that is happening somewhere else. We are dealing with the issues, right with us at home in our own family. . . if we want to be distracted we will do it through sport, we will do it through our own good friends and family. Those are the people that bring us through the times that are tough and that is enough to be focused on at the minute.”
He said his son-in-law John McAreavey was coping “admirably” with his tragic loss.
“He’s devastated as you would expect he would be. He’s a really good lad and we are privileged to have him as our son-in-law. He’s a really, really nice young man.
“I said on Michaela’s wedding day that she picked well, and I’ve said since that I’m beginning to realise every day since that she picked even better than I thought. He’s just a gem of a man.”
During his address in Moyross, Mr Harte spoke of his faith and belief in the higher power that has helped his family cope in the aftermath of Michaela’s murder.
“There is great sadness around the loss of Michaela, but we have to try and rise above that and live with the hope that there are greater things ahead.
“God and Michaela will give us the strength to cope with the difficult times and it is probably when the times are difficult that they are more close to us and I believe that.
“That belief gives me solace and strength and the ability to know that it is a day at a time. That is the only way we can live our life now and I suppose that is a blessing to be able to do that.
“God is the only way through difficulties like this. On our own we cannot do it but with the help of God, with the faith that we have, there is help there and that gives me hope. If we are not people of hope, we are in a bad place.”