13 July 2012 Last updated at 02:08 ET

Michaela families return home from Mauritius

John McAreavey said his life ended on the day his wife was killed

The family of Michaela McAreavey is expected to fly back from Mauritius later after two men were found not guilty of her murder.

Avinash Treebhoowoon, 32, and Sandip Moneea, 43, both worked at the hotel where Mrs McAreavey was killed.

The 27-year-old teacher from Northern Ireland was killed on her honeymoon in January 2011.

Her relatives said words could not describe their "sense of devastation and desolation".

Michaela was the daughter of one of Ireland's best known sports figures, Mickey Harte, manager of the Tyrone Gaelic football team.

'Harrowing'

In a statement after the men were acquitted, the McAreavey and Harte families said: "Following the endurance of seven harrowing weeks of this trial there were no words which could describe the sense of devastation and desolation now felt by both families."

Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said the people of Ireland would not rest "until justice was done" for the Harte and McAreavey families.

Mr McGuinness also said that everyone stood shoulder to shoulder with her widower, John McAreavey.

The trial at the Supreme Court in Mauritius lasted more than seven weeks. It was initially expected to last two weeks but turned into one of the longest trials in Mauritian legal history.

The police and prosecution said Mrs McAreavey had been murdered after disturbing thieves in her room.

Thousands of mourners attended Michaela's funeral near her family home in Ballygawley, County Tyrone in January 2011.

The 27-year-old had married John McAreavey just 12 days before she was murdered, and was buried in her wedding dress.