Michaela McAreavey: County Londonderry men guilty over mocking chant

Michaela McAreavey was killed while on honeymoon in Mauritius in 2011

Two County Londonderry men who took part in singing an offensive song mocking the murder of Michaela McAreavey have been convicted of stirring up hatred.

The 27-year-old teacher from County Tyrone was killed on honeymoon in 2011.

They were two of three men charged over a video streamed from an Orange hall in Dundonald in May 2022.

Steven Kane, 26, was sentenced to four months in prison suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty.

His co-accused Dillion Kelly, 22, Edmund Court in Tobermore, denied the charge but was found guilty at Belfast Magistrates' Court and will be sentenced next month.

Kelly, and Kane, of Coolshinney Heights in Magherafelt were charged with the same offence.

Earlier in March, 23-year-old Cian Jones, from Craigadick Road, Maghera, who also took part was given 240 hours community service, after a guilty plea.

Footage of the singing, which involved members of a flute band punching the air as they chanted about the schoolteacher's death, was played in court.

'Abhorrent'

The prosecution said the lyrics of the chant mocked the murder of a young Catholic woman in a venue surrounded by Union flags.

"The words used can only be regarded by any right-minded person as abhorrent," a lawyer said.

"The only reasonable inference is that the intent was to incite hatred," the lawyer added.

Kelly declined to give evidence at the hearing, but during police interviews he denied taking part in the singing.

His solicitor argued that the lyrics made no reference to Michaela McAreavey's religion.

"The song is undoubtedly mocking... but the legislation is not designed to deal with bad taste, even appallingly bad taste," he submitted.

The judge ruled that Kelly had joined in the singing.

"I'm satisfied, having regard to all the circumstances, that hatred was likely to be stirred up and there will be a conviction," Mr Conner held.

Kelly will appear again in six weeks time to be sentenced.

The murder victim's widower, John McAreavey, provided a statement describing the distress the singing caused to him and the wider family circle.

He said he believed that there was a hateful and hurtful intent behind it.

'Foolish behaviour'

Kane's lawyer said he was too young to have been aware of the murder but "foolishly" decided to join in at an alcohol-fuelled environment.

"In that male company, being a young man trying to fit in, he went along (with it)," counsel said.

He added that his client had lost a well-paid IT job and had to move home due to threats after the footage was published.

"This is something that has brought shame to his door and caused a lot of personal problems," he said.

Imposing the four-month suspended prison sentence, the judge said: "he has brought so much against himself by such foolish behaviour."

A PSNI detective said the sentencing should send a "clear message to those involved in this type of crime that they will be vigorously pursued and brought before the courts to face the consequences of such activity."