"The pain doesn't fade" - John McAreavey meets with Simon Harris to seek justice for Michaela

Michaela and John tied the knot in a winter wedding in December 2010, but less than two weeks later, she was killed in her hotel room during the couple's honeymoon to Mauritius.

Michaela's former husband, John, is still hopeful that justice will be found for his wife and recently met with Tánaiste Simon Harris as the fifteenth anniversary of her death approaches.

John heartbreakingly admitted that despite the time passed, the "pain" he feels over Michaela's death "doesn't fade".

Sharing a photo of Michaela on his social media, John wrote: "This afternoon I met with An Tánaiste Simon Harris to discuss what more can be done to hold the Mauritian authorities to their promise of delivering justice for Michaela.

"It’s approaching 15 years since Michaela was murdered on our honeymoon. 15 years without accountability. 15 years of waiting, hoping, and fighting.

"The pain doesn't fade—but neither does the resolve. The fight for justice continues."

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Michaela McAreavey.

Michaela was just 27 years old when she was strangled in her hotel room in Mauritius on January 10, 2011, having just married her husband, John, 10 days prior.

It is believed that the teacher and daughter of former Tyrone GAA manager Mickey Harte was attacked after she returned to the room alone and disturbed a burglary.

However, 15 years on, and so far, Michaela's killers have not been caught and put behind bars.

Two hotel workers, SanDip Moneea and Avinash Treebhoowoon, were accused of being involved in the crime and went on trial for murder in 2012, but were acquitted.

On the 10th anniversary of her death in 2021, the Mauritian government agreed to look again at the case, following pressure from Michaela's family and the government in Northern Ireland.

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Michaela McAreavey's funeral procession.

In 2022, former hotel worker Sandip Moneea, who had already been acquitted of Michaela's murder, was questioned again by police, but still no new leads were found.

John went on to get remarried to Tara Brennan in September 2016, and the couple has welcomed two children together, a boy named James and a girl named Lily.

* This article was originally published on Evoke.ie.