SEE PHOTOS - Michaela Harte's funeral
Read more: Last wishes of tragic murdered bride Michaela Harte revealed
Read more: Tragic bride Michaela Harte murdered for $600 dollars
Thousands of people joined the funeral cortege of murdered newlywed Michaela Harte, as her father football manager Mickey Harte and her widower John McAreavey followed her coffin.
President Mary McAleese, Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s aide-de-camp Michael Treacy, Martin McGuinness, deputy First Minister at Stormont, the head of the GAA, Christy Cooney, and the High Commissioner of Mauritius in the UK, Abhimanu Kundasamy were also amongst those who attended the funeral at St Malachy’s church outside Ballygawley.
One of the busiest roads in the North was blocked off to traffic as mourners came to pay their respect to Michaela’s family as the 27-year-old Irish teacher was buried in her wedding gown.
Michaela was strangled in her honeymoon suite in Mauritius just 12 days after she was married in the same church where her funeral mass was held.
The Tyrone senior gaeilc football team and local club Errigal Ciaran provided a guard of honor for the cortege, which travelled from Michaela’s parent’s home to the church. At the church her widower John’s local football club, Tullylish in County Down, along with Michaela’s form class from St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon.
On the door of the church there were two signs which read “Family Only” however a marquee was set up outside for the public and a live audio stream was carried on RTE. Hundreds gathered outside to watch the funeral on a screen in the church’s ground.
Michaela’s coffin was brought into the church as a choir sung “The Cloud’s Veil” followed by the opening hymn “Christ Be Beside Me”.
Archbishop of Armagh, a Primate of Ireland, Sean Brady presided over the mass. Bishop of Dromore, John McAreavey, the widower’s uncle, said the couple lived for each other, their lives revolved around each other and they spoke endlessly about each other.
He said “Their hopes for the future were bound up with each other.” He called her murder an evil act that deprived Michaela of her life, John of his beautiful wife and the Harte family of a precious daughter.
“Even those of us who are older and who have had some experience of tragedy have been shaken to the core by what has happened. We are still in a state of shock.”
At the beginning of the mass a number of symbols were presented by the McAvreavey family. They included a family photo to represent her love of family, the source of her truth, integrity and devotion and rosary beads to symbolize her deep faith.
A fainne ring to symbolize her deep love of the Irish language as an Irish speaker. This small ring is an emblem worn by those who speak Irish.
A pioneer pin was presented as Michaela was a tee-totaler on religious grounds. This reflected her faith in action.
Also a flower was presented to symbolize her great beauty and also the fact that she was the Ulster Rose in the Rose of Tralee beauty contest in 2004.
The last and most poignant offering was tea and biscuits. Bishop McAreavey said this offering needed no explanation. Michaela could not have a cup of tea without a biscuit. In fact she had returned to her hotel room to get a biscuit from her suitcase when she interrupted a burglary and was murdered.
SEE PHOTOS - Michaela Harte's funeral
Read more: Last wishes of tragic murdered bride Michaela Harte revealed
Read more: Tragic bride Michaela Harte murdered for $600 dollars
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.brokenhearted | Jan 28, 2011, 10:45 PM EST
So sorry for the family of Michaela an John her husband. Who are these thugs that did this an what is their background. We cannot bring back Michaela, but God help those thugs.
Buffalobrave | Jan 28, 2011, 10:14 AM EST
My thoughts and prayers are with your family and your dear husband. May God forgive those who did this horrible thing to you. But after all is said and done, you Michaela, are in a better place today. God Bless you and keep you.
mamaginnty | Jan 26, 2011, 10:47 AM EST
My thoughts and prayers are with Machaela's new husband and family. RIP.
Liamkeyes | Jan 26, 2011, 10:47 AM EST
Evil hardly describes this tragedy.I hope and pray that the Mauritian Authorities catch tne perpetrators of this despicable act. My prayers are with the Family. Ar Laimh deas Dia go raibh an anam.
Bushothehill | Jan 26, 2011, 09:24 AM EST
Sorrow, what else. How tragic. Say a prayer for Michaela. Barbarism, tragedy and homicidal maniacs are still alive and well and sadly, always will be. Evil doers are in every corner of this earth.
TheNunsHabit | Jan 25, 2011, 10:57 PM EST
May the comfort of our Mighty Creator be with her family and may swift justice prevail for those responsible.
chris281188 | Jan 19, 2011, 08:50 AM EST
being a mauritian myself, gosh it's so sad and a shame at the same time....killed someone for $600...WTF...may she rest in peace and my sincere condolences to the mourning folks,,,,sincerely
Noreen/Ireland | Jan 18, 2011, 06:44 PM EST
The dignity that her funeral was organised was remarkable. My condolences to Micheleals husband John and her Mother, Father and Brothers. The entire gaelic association were outstanding in their organisation of this sad funeral which was attended by thousands. This beautiful bride was murdered by petty criminals who are now murderers. I do hope that the Mauritacian authorities convict all the people involved in this murder especially the "key holder" who unlocked the door to allow this crime to be committed and he must have stood outside listening and heard Michelea's cries for help. He is as guilty as the men who were in the room and stangled her. May she Rest in Peace. She is an Angel in Heaven.
Magicdusa | Jan 18, 2011, 03:17 PM EST
My thoughts and sympathy go out to the her family and fiends. It's an absolute heart wrenching tragedy. Times like this make me wonder if their really is a God I mean what food would let this happen.
cabbagehead44 | Jan 18, 2011, 11:54 AM EST
My heart goes out to her grieving family and friends! May God give you the courage and perserverance to go on in this time of such sorrow. It was a tragedy for all of us!
barneyjo | Jan 18, 2011, 03:12 AM EST
I knew Michaela to talk to; a really warm, genuine, what you saw is what you got, human being. May she rest in peace and may those who mourn her find peace in time!!
jamieLM | Jan 17, 2011, 06:21 PM EST
So incredibly sad, unbelievably senseless, and totally EVIL.
Louisa21 | Jan 17, 2011, 04:11 PM EST
devasting
billjoyce | Jan 17, 2011, 11:34 AM EST
What has happened to the miserable bastards whio did this?
GeorgeDillon | Jan 17, 2011, 11:24 AM EST
Solas na bhFlaitheas go bhfeice sí, agus Glórtha na nAingeal go gcloise sí. A Phádraig agus a Bhríd, guigí uirthi.