Prayer kept me sane – Mickey Harte

Tyrone GAA manager Mickey Harte has said that the power of prayer has helped his family to carry on over the past year since his daughter Michaela was murdered while on honeymoon in Mauritius.

Just days earlier, Michaela had married John McAreavey who was to discover his bride dead on January 10 in their hotel room.

Writing in his regular column in The Irish News, Mr Harte explains how ”those closest to Michaela are in no doubt that the power of prayer has kept us sane in those dark days immediately after Michaela’s murder and continues to carry us at this particularly poignant time”.

Recalling the shock at the news of Michaela’s death while on honeymoon, Mr Harte reveals that ”the sense of loss and heartbreak was, almost bewilderingly, accompanied by a consoling calmness that could only come from God and Michaela” and adds that while death has changed the nature of the relationship he and his family had with Michaela, nevertheless ”our faith has allowed us to continue with it”. He describes his only daughter as ”a blessing from God”.

”You may have heard it said that time is a great healer,” he concludes. ”For my part, true healing only comes from God.”

Two hotel workers, Avinash Treebhowon and Sandip Moneea, have been officially charged with the murder of Michaela McAreavey and await trial in Mauritius.

It is alleged that Michaela was killed when she returned to her hotel room and disturbed one of the suspects in the act of stealing.

An anniversary Mass for Michaela McAreavey will be held in Ballymacilroy, Co. Tyrone on January 13, at 8pm.