A man has been found guilty in India of the 2017 rape and murder of Co Donegal backpacker Danielle McLaughlin.
Vikat Bhagat (31) was found guilty at the District and Sessions Court in south Goa on Friday and is to be sentenced on Monday. Prosecutors have asked that he face the death penalty.
Ms McLaughlin (28), from Buncrana, had travelled to Canacona, an area of Goa popular with holidaymakers, in March 2017 with a female friend from Australia.
They had been out celebrating Holi – a Hindu festival – at a nearby village on the day Ms McLaughlin died. Her body was found the next day by a farmer in a remote field.
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A postmortem found cerebral damage and constriction of the neck had caused the death of the former Liverpool John Moores University student.
Bhagat was arrested within hours of the discovery and confessed immediately to the killing, but his trial took eight years to conclude.
Speaking to The Irish Times from Goa following Friday’s court hearing, Ms McLaughlin’s sister, Joleen McLaughlin Brannigan, said she had “no emotions whatsoever” for Bhagat.
She said all the family “care about is that justice was served today” given they had lost so many years awaiting a verdict.
“The whole process was frustrating. We never knew what was going to happen. It was overwhelming, but we are glad we got to this stage,” she said.
When asked if she believed Bhagat should face the death penalty, Ms McLaughlin Brannigan replied: “It’s up to the judge at the end of the day. We are just glad that he was found guilty. We are just glad that he will face the consequences of his actions.”
She praised the British and Irish embassies for their roles in the case. Danielle had travelled to India on a British passport.
“Since we have arrived in Goa, they have been with us every step of the way. They were in court with us, they prepared for us for the media. They have helped us with any questions we had to ask,” she said of the embassies.
Staff from the embassies also accompanied the family to the site in Goa where Danielle was murdered.
“We saw how peaceful it was. We could feel her spirit there. It was nice to get to see the Goa that Danielle loved so much,” Ms McLaughlin Brannigan added.
“The Indian people have been incredible and so helpful. They have been passionate about this case. They really treated her like she was their own daughter.”
In a written statement, Ms McLaughlin’s mother, Andrea Brannigan, said the repeated trial delays had caused the family great stress.
“We are content now with the judicial confirmation in public of what we already sadly knew. What further legal processes now take place we will observe,” she said.
“We now hope not only that Danielle can rest in peace, but that we as a family can have some peace and comfort knowing that the person who brutally raped and murdered our precious Danielle has been convicted.”
The family offered their thanks to their legal representatives – Desmond Doherty in Ireland and Vikram Varma in India.
“Without this joint legal representation we had, we would have been lost in the process. This was an eight-year murder trial that has been very tiring. We are glad it is over,” they added.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris said he hoped the verdict would give the McLaughlin family some closure.
“I would like to pay tribute to Danielle’s family, and in particular, to her mother Andrea for her determination and resilience in the face of unimaginable tragedy,” he said.
He added that nothing could ease the pain caused by the loss experienced Ms McLaughlin’s family.
“My thoughts will remain with them as they continue to grieve the loss of their beloved daughter and sister. May Danielle rest in peace.” – Additional reporting: PA
