“Absolutely abhorrent, disgusting and shameful”.
John McAreavey has spoken out after a clip appeared on social media on Friday that showed crowds mocking the murder of his wife Michaela.
The footage, which shows a group of people singing about the schoolteacher’s murder, began to go viral and caused outrage throughout the country.
McAreavey was strangled in her room at the Legends Hotel in Mauritius while on honeymoon on 10 January, 2011, after marrying footballer John McAreavey.
To this day, no one has been convicted of her murder.
Two men involved in the video have since apologised as an investigation into the incident is underway.
Speaking about the video on Twitter, John said: “Michaela was a vessel of love, courage and dignity. Hate can hurt, but can never win.”
In a statement, a spokesman for the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland said: “The video currently circulating on social media relating to the murder of Michaela McAreavey is utterly abhorrent and the Orange Institution condemns the content without reservation.
“The behaviour of those involved and their actions have no place in our society and certainly do not reflect the ethos of our organisation.
Michaela was a vessel of love, courage and dignity.
Hate can hurt, but never win. ♥️
— John McAreavey (@john_mcareavey) June 3, 2022
“The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, which has instigated an inquiry into the incident and if any of those involved are found to be members of the Institution, they will face disciplinary proceedings.”
Many have spoken out in condemnation of the “sick” video.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he was “appalled” and “horrified” after watching it while Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O’Neill spoke with John McAreavey personally to offer “solidarity”.
Two of the men involved in the video, John Bell and Andrew McDade, have apologised and said that the video was one of “deep shame and regret”.
The two issued a statement through the PR firm JWB Consultancy
In the statement, they said: “This Facebook live video was not streamed with the intent of broadcasting any offensive chants whatsoever, rather it was generally broadcasting from the room.
“However, whether broadcast or not, the relevant chants should never have been sung either in public or private.
“We offer our sincerest and deepest apology to the Harte and McAreavey families, and indeed to wider society for our actions which, whilst fuelled by alcohol, can neither be mitigated or excused in any shape or form.
“Our apology is unequivocal, and our acceptance of wrongdoing is absolute.”
