THE WIDOWER of murdered Michaela Harte has spoken for the first time about how he has been left “totally devastated” by the death of his “best friend” and “rock”.

John McAreavey, who plays inter-county football for Down, tonight released a statement in which he described how the “horrific loss” of Michaela – to whom he had been married for just eleven days before her death, had left him “unable to take it in”.

“Words have no meaning,” McAreavey said. “I can’t describe in words how lost I feel as Michaela is not just the light of my life – she is my life.

“My beautiful wife, my best friend, my rock Michaela, has been taken from me and I still can’t take it in.

He went on:

I am heartbroken and like Mickey, Marian, Michaela’s brothers and my family, I am totally devastated. I am numbed.

I love my wife, very, very much and my world revolved around her. I can’t describe in words how lost I feel as Michaela is not just the light of my life – she is my life.

She is a gift from god and I now have an angel.

Members of the Harte and McAreavey families arrived on Mauritius today to assist John in bringing his late wife’s body home; the Irish ambassador to South Africa, Brendan McMahon, is also offering his assistance on the island.

Reports this evening suggested that two of the three men who had appeared in court this morning in connection with the murder had confessed to the killing; Abinash Treeboowoon (28), a room attendant at the Legends Hotel, and his supervisor Sandip Monea (41), both admitted to involvement in the death.

Michaela was found dead in the bathroom of her hotel room on Monday afternoon; post-mortem results showed she had died as a result of asphyxia due to compression of the neck.

An official online book of condolence has been opened at the Tyrone GAA County Board website.