The island's government has already moved to condemn the publication of graphic photographs of Michaela's body and the scene where she was killed.

"It will be welcome if detectives from Ireland, both Northern and the Republic of Ireland, come to Mauritius," Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolan said.

Sinn Féin deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, who made the suggestion, welcomed Mr Ramgoolan's comments on Tuesday evening.

"I will raise the issue again with the Mauritian Ambassador when we meet in London on Thursday at my request, as part of a wider meeting to discuss the very serious concerns that I have regarding the investigation and the court proceedings," he said.

"The Harte and McAreavey families must get justice and the onus is on the Mauritian authorities to deliver this."

The Mauritian Prime Minister also said that the printing of the photos by the Mauritian Sunday Times newspaper - which is unconnected to any publication in the UK or Ireland - was to be condemned.

"This act runs counter to the deep attachment of our country and our citizens to family values and respect of those who have lost their beloved ones," he added.

I believe the paper should be closed down. I believe the editors should resign and I believe the full weight of the Mauritian political system should come down on top of them.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness

Michaela's family has rejected an apology by the newspaper's director general Imran Hosany, saying that their hurt cannot be undone.

"If, as this man claims, he is fully cooperating with the police, then the best and most obvious form of apology would be to tell them how his newspaper came into receipt of these photographs," a statement from the Hartes and McAreaveys said.

"This would be a start to taking some degree of personal responsibility."

According to the newspaper, the pictures were not published to sensationalise - but to "recall that such a heinous crime remained unpunished".

But the McAreaveys' lawyer in Mauritius, Dick Ng Sui Wa, described the publication as "outrageous" and said legal action was being taken.

Speaking from London, SDLP MP for South Down Margaret Ritchie said: "Following discussions with Bishop McAreavey and representation on behalf of the McAreavey and Harte families, I have been in contact with the UK Foreign Office ministers and I have asked them to reinforce the efforts of the Irish Government in pursuit of justice for Michaela McAreavey.

"Given the treatment that these families have received throughout the trial and the outrageous publication of crime scene photographs at the weekend, which were an affront to Michaela's dignity and caused such distress to John and the families, the maximum pressure needs to be applied to the Mauritian authorities to take action.

"We will not let the spotlight come off this government until the families, and particularly John, get justice for Michaela."

Hotel workers Sandip Moneea and Avinash Treebhoowoon were cleared of Michaela's murder by a jury at the Supreme Court in Port Louis last Thursday.

The former beauty queen, the only daughter of Tyrone Gaelic football manager Mickey Harte, was found dead in the bathtub of her room at the Legends resort where she and her husband were spending their honeymoon in January last year.