POLICE IN MAURITIUS have arrested a fifth man in connection with the investigation into the murder of Michaela McAreavey on the island on January 10.

Seenarain Mungoo (39), who works as a security officer in the four-star Legends Hotel where McAreavey was killed, was arrested yesterday and taken in for questioning by police investigating McAreavey’s murder.

The Irish News reports that Mungoo was arrested at 5:30pm Mauritian time (1:30pm Irish time) yesterday, and is to face a court appearance tomorrow in connection with the murder, with today being a public holiday on the island.

Police officers believe Mungoo may have had a role in issuing a fake magnetic card to access the McAreaveys’ hotel room, which was accessed two minutes before Michaela herself entered the room in the moments before her death.

The arrest comes a day after the fourth man arrested in connection with the case was charged with conspiracy to murder; Dassen Narayanen (26) was arrested on Tuesday and yesterday appeared before magistrates.

The Belfast Telegraph reports that Narayanen was refused bail and is to return to the court on January 26.

Yesterday lawyers for Abinash Treebhoowoon, the prime suspect in the case, asked permission for their client to make a statement to the court regarding the conditions of his detention, but were told to do so would be “inappropriate”.

Michaela McAreavey (née Harte) was found strangled in her room at the Legends Hotel on January 10.