Civic case begins into Michaela photos publication

The 27-year-old, who was married to Tullylish Gaelic footballer John McAreavey, was killed at the Legends hotel in Mauritius in January 2011.

Both the Harte and McAreavey families are seeking damages rumoured to be near £300,000 from the Mauritius Sunday Times and its editor, Imraan Hosany.

The paper published photos that, it is understood, were taken by police during the investigation and were used in the trial on July 15. Mr Hosany - who is currently on bail - was later arrested and charged with outrage to public and religious morality for publishing the photographs.

The publication of the photos “constituted an outrage to the dignity of Michaela,” said the family.

“By printing, distributing and/or causing to be published these photos of the late Michaela Harte body as taken by the police photographer, defendants had committed a serious and unforgivable faute towards the plaintiffs,” they said in a document submitted to the court in Mauritius.

Michaela, was the daughter of Tyrone manager Mickey Harte. Mr McAreavey, along with her parents and brothers, are suing the publisher and the paper’s editor.