THE BODY of Michaela Harte who was murdered in Mauritius this week has been received home by her family in Co Tyrone.
Her coffin was carried slowly past her home village of Ballygawley and given a guard of honour by members of Errigal Ciarán, the local GAA club once managed by the deceased’s father, Tyrone senior football boss Mickey Harte.
The cortege made its way towards her former home in the townland of Glencull a short distance away.
Hundreds of sympathisers are expected to visit the house today and tomorrow and special facilities are in place to cope with the anticipated crowds, ahead of her funeral on Monday.
President Mary McAleese is among those due to attend.
Ms Harte’s coffin was flown overnight from Mauritius to London’s Heathrow airport and transferred to a flight to Belfast City Airport, where it landed after midday yesterday and was met by members of her extended family.
Accompanying the remains were Ms Harte’s husband John McAreavey and his father Brendan. Also there were Michaela’s brother Mark and Mr McAreavey’s brother Brian who had flown out to Mauritius earlier this week.
They were met at the airport by Bishop John McAreavey of Dromore, the groom’s uncle, who was the lead celebrant at the couple’s wedding on December 30th.
A short and private prayer ceremony was held before her coffin was taken the 100km to her parents’ home in Co Tyrone.
Fr Gerard McAleer, a close family friend who has spent much time with Mickey and Marian Harte since news of the murder reached Ireland, said there was “an explosion of emotion” when they were told their daughter’s remains had landed.
Preparations for the return of her body intensified near the Hartes’ home in Glencull, outside Ballygawley. The country road leading to the house was closed to all but close friends and relatives.
Two marquees have been constructed in the grounds of the house and in a field across the road.
Temporary arc lights and electricity generators are also in place. Volunteer stewards, many of them wearing GAA jackets, have been accommodating callers to the house and quietly insisting that reporters, camera crews and others remain some distance away.
A private prayer service at St Malachy’s church nearby, where the couple married on December 30th, took place last night.
Both the Harte and McAreavey families issued a joint statement calling for privacy.
“As Michaela returns home we respectfully ask for full privacy to allow our two families, united in sorrow, to have the space and time to spend with a much-loved wife, daughter and sister,” the statement said.
They have requested that donations to charity be made in lieu of flowers. The families suggest that the Cormac McAnallen Trust and the Spirit of Paul McGirr fund be supported by mourners.
Both were Tyrone players who died. Paul McGirr, a Tyrone minor footballer, died a short time after being injured in a collision on the field in 1998. Cormac McAnallen, the former Tyrone senior captain, died suddenly of a rare cardiac condition in 2004.
“We are all grateful for the prayers and support we have received from all parts of Ireland, the UK and across the world. This support has helped sustain us physically, emotionally and spiritually through these darkest of days,” the statement added.
“The distance from Mauritius has only increased our sense of isolation and separation from our beloved Michaela and her husband John. Now as two heartbroken and devastated families, together we can share our grief and our love for Michaela and provide support and comfort to John.”
The requiem Mass at St Malachy’s is scheduled for 12.30pm on Monday, with interment in the small adjoining cemetery afterwards.
Park and ride facilities are being organised in anticipation of significant crowds on Monday.
Three hotel workers have been charged in connection with the murder of Ms Harte at the exclusive Legends Hotel in Mauritius.
On a visit to Dublin yesterday, Dr Karl Mootoosamy, the director of the Mauritius Tourist Board, said everyone in the country had “gone into shock and deep sorrow” following the murder.
Dr Mootoosamy was in Ireland to meet tour operators, and he travels to London today to meet the Mauritius high commissioner Abhimanu Kundasamy in advance of his attendance at Ms Harte’s funeral on Monday.
“The grief is immeasurable. What has happened is just so unbelievable and unacceptable; the grief of the people is everywhere in the street,” he said.