Series to explore Michaela murder

BBC show on honeymoon horror

- DANNY DE VAAL

AN explosive three-part BBC documentary about the murder of Michaela McAreavey will air next month, we can reveal.

The programme, which is called Murder In Paradise, will be released in a matter of weeks but an exact date has not yet been finalised.

Members of Michaela’s family along with “key figures” in the case were also interviewed.

Journalists Darragh McIntyre and Allison Morris will front the programme.

It will explore the circumstances of Michaela’s murder during her honeymoon on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius on January 10, 2011.

The 27-year-old daughter of former Tyrone football team coach Mickey Harte was attacked after she returned to the couple’s room at the Legends Hotel alone and disturbed a burglary.

On the day she was killed, Michaela and her husband John had lunch at their hotel. After they had their meal, she went to her room.

Newlywed Michaela, from Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, was then strangled.

Cops investigating the horror murder believe Michaela was wrestled to the ground on entering her room.

It is then believed that she was put into the bath and the water was turned on.

Her husband John, who she had married just 12 days beforehand, found Michaela’s body in the bath.

During the murder trial, John revealed he was handcuffed and said cops examined his body for marks.