New developments in Michaela McAreavey murder probe

The 27-year-old Co Tyrone teacher, who was the only daughter of Tyrone gaelic football manager Mickey Harte, was strangled in her room in the luxury Legends hotel in Mauritius in 2011.

Two former hotel workers were acquitted of the crime after a high-profile trial on the holiday island in the summer of 2012.

A new probe by Mauritian police was launched in the wake of the trial.

The Harte and McAreavey families, who have previously been critical about what they claimed was a lack of progress in finding the killers, said they had now been told of developments in the investigation.

Their statement follows media reports on the island that four new suspects, all allegedly former hotel employees, have been identified.

A spokeswoman for the families said: “The McAreavey and Harte families have been recently informed about new developments in the investigation into Michaela’s murder. They will await further information on those developments before making any additional comment.”.

Sandip Moneea and Avinash Treebhoowoon were cleared of the newlywed’s murder by a jury at the Supreme Court in Port Louis in July 2012.

The Ballygawley teacher was found dead in the bathtub of her deluxe room shortly after lunching with her husband John at a poolside restaurant.