Appalled & horrified

Taoiseach leads condemnation of 'vile' clip on tragic teacher. Two involved issue apology while football coach is fired by club

- JOHN HAND, CIARA PHELAN and DAMIEN EDGAR

TWO men involved in a "vile" and "shameful" video mocking murdered Michaela McAreavey have apologised publicly as cops launched a probe.

The fallout over the shocking clip, which appeared on social media yesterday morning, prompted a huge outcry both north and south.

Michaela's husband John McAreavey, who was on honeymoon with his new bride when she was murdered, paid tribute to her last night in the wake of the horrific post.

He said on Twitter: "Michaela was a vessel of love, courage and dignity. Hate can hurt, but can never win."

Meanwhile, politicians across the island joined in condemning those involved with Taoiseach Micheal Martin saying he was "appalled" and "horrified" after watching it.

Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O'Neill spoke with John McAreavey personally to offer "solidarity" to both his and the Harte families.

Belfast football club Linfield sacked one of its coaches, believed to be in the video, while the Orange Order and a construction company which says one of its employees was involved have launched their own investigations.

Two of the men involved in the recording, John Bell and Andrew McDade, apologised and said it was a matter of "deep shame and regret”.

The pair issued a statement through the PR firm JWB Consultancy run by Jamie Bryson, who calls himself a "unionist activist".

They vowed to write a formal letter of apology to the Harte and McAreavey families and to make a donation to a charity of their choice.

Bell and McDade admitted it was an "offensive, vile and wholly abhorrent chant".

And 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.