Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has spoken of his family's devastation following the murder of his daughter in Mauritius.
Michaela McAreavey, 27, was found strangled in her hotel room at the Legends Hotel in the village of Grand Gaube yesterday.
She had been on honeymoon on the Indian Ocean island.
The police investigation into the murder is continuing, but no arrests have been made.
Police say an autopsy carried out this morning determined that Michaela had been strangled.
Mickey Harte thanked all those who have offered support and prayers to him, his family and Michaela's husband and his family.
Speaking about their devastation at their loss, Mr Harte described his daughter as a ‘gem’ who was always special to him and to his family and who he loved to bits.
He said all Michaela's relatives would miss her so much, and their hearts are broken.
But he added that her spirit would always be with them.
Mr Harte said Michaela's husband, Down footballer John McAreavey, is devastated and in ‘such a lonely place’ as he is alone in Mauritius and awaiting the arrival of family to support him.
Mr Harte appealed to the press out in Mauritius to give his son-in-law privacy and to leave him alone to grieve.
Mr Harte said he was deeply sorry for John McAreavey as he did not get long to share with his new wife. The couple were married on December 30th.
He said his daughter was radiant on her wedding day. He said he knew many people before him had had to deal with such tragedy, but he said nobody would understand what it felt like unless they had gone through it.
Officers say there was a struggle before Michaela's death.
Although there have been no arrests so far, police involved in the investigation say they are hopeful of an early breakthrough.
Superintendent Yussuf Soopun of the Major Crime Unit in Mauritius said John McAreavey is not a suspect.
Mr Soopun said Mr McAreavey was in the restaurant of the hotel when his wife was murdered.
'She had gone back to the room to get some biscuits to put in her tea and, when she failed to return, her husband went to look for her,' he said.
'When he found her in the room, she had been killed. He tried to help her but she was already dead.'
Mr Soopun said the killer had used an electronic key card to enter the room.
He said: 'There was no forced entry into the room. Whoever killed her definitely used an electronic card.'
Mrs McAreavey had married the Down footballer on 30 December.
She taught Irish at St Patrick's Girls Academy in Dungannon and was a former Ulster Rose of Tralee.
Michaela was the only daughter of Mickey and Marian Harte. She had three brothers, Mark, Michael and Matthew.
Mark Harte and a member of the McAreavey family are expected to fly out to the island today.
An official from the Irish Embassy in Pretoria in South Africa is to arrive in Mauritius today to assist Mr McAreavey.
Mauritius regarded as a safe destination
Tributes
Bishop of Dromore John McAreavey, who married the teacher to his nephew, said the young footballer was devastated.
'She was the love of his life, absolutely and truly. He adored her and talked about her with such warmth,' he said.
'He loved everything about her: her faith, her personality, her love for things Gaelic and Irish, her sparkle. I have a sense that a light has gone out with the death of Michaela.'
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness passed on their condolences.
Mr Robinson said: 'It was with deep sadness that I learnt of the death of Michaela Harte. I would like to pass my deepest condolences to her husband John, her father Mickey and to all of her family.'
Mr McGuinness said: 'Just a matter of days ago it was a joyous occasion when Michaela married John (McAreavey) and no doubt they planned a long and happy life together.
'They had so much to live for but now their hopes have been cruelly dashed by the tragic death of Michaela.'
Pupils at St Patrick's Academy in Dungannon have been signing a book of condolence for their teacher.
St Patrick's Academy principal Fintan Donnelly described her as a 'vibrant and popular teacher' who was an inspiration and example to her students.
The chaplain at St Patrick's said staff and pupils have been left numbed and sickened by her death.
Fr Peter McAnenly said staff did not have the words to express their horror at her murder, which he described as a ‘dreadful tragedy’.
He said there was an air of sadness in the school and in the county of Tyrone.
