Man, 31, found guilty of 2017 rape & murder of Irish backpacker, 28, in India after body found in field by farmer

A MAN has been found guilty of the rape and murder of an Irish woman who was backpacking through India.

Danielle McLaughlin, 28, from Buncrana in Donegal, was found dead in 2017 after being brutally raped in a secluded spot popular with tourists in the western state of Goa - some 8,000km away.

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She had only been in India for two weeks before her body was found in a field near Cacacona by a farmer a few days before St Patricks Day.

A post-mortem examination found brain damage and strangulation as the cause of death.

Vikat Bhagat, who was a friend of Danielle’s during the time she spent in India, was today found guilty of her murder and rape at the District and Sessions Court in south Goa.

The 31-year-old had been arrested by police within hours of Danielle's body being discovered but the criminal proceedings faced many delays over the years.

The case was brought to court on more than 250 occasions with several lengthy delays and Bhagat was found guilty today - almost eight years since the young woman was killed.

Speaking to The Irish Sun last month Andrea Brannigan, Danielle’s mother, told how no family should have to wait so long for justice.

She said: "I still can’t believe we are in this nightmare after all this time and all we want is justice for my beautiful daughter.

"The whole process has been extremely slow and no family should have to wait this long for justice."

The heartbroken mum also told how Danielle has "missed out on so much".

She explained: "I recently became a grandmother and Danielle would have loved being an auntie.

“She has just missed out on so much and so many lives have been affected by such a senseless waste of life.

“My heart also goes out to my other girls who have all missed out on the love of a wonderful young woman.

“No child should ever have to experience the loss of their eldest sibling to such a brutal and disgusting crime.”

She still had so many more experiences to enjoy".

Danielle's mum

Vikram Varma, the lawyer representing Danielle's mum Andrea, yesterday said: "She died a brutal death. We are hopeful that justice would be done."

Final arguments in the murder trial should have been heard two weeks ago and Andrea had vowed to be in court when the verdict was read out.

However, she was informed last week that the end of the trial had once again been delayed, only to be updated on Sunday that final arguments would proceed today.

PLANS CUT SHORT

At the time of her barbaric murder, Danielle was studying to be a yoga teacher and had travelled to Goa with an Australian female friend where the pair stayed at a beach hut.

They had been celebrating Holi – a Hindu spring festival – at a nearby village.

And Danielle's mum told us how the young woman had plans to keep on travelling - with Canada next on her bucket list.

Andrea said: "Danielle loved travelling and she still had so many more experiences to enjoy.

“It’s heartbreaking to think that someone could commit such an appalling level of violence on a wonderful human being.”

She added: “I’d also like to thank everyone who has supported us over the last number of years."

TANAISTE TRIBUTE

Andrea previously said she was disgusted to be refused a meeting with then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar because his office claimed "she was not an Irish citizen".

Danielle was travelling with a British passport at the time of her death and had dual British-Irish citizenship as she was born in Glasgow - but had lived in Ireland since she was two weeks old.

Tanaiste Simon Harris today said he hopes the verdict will "represent some closure" for the family of the young Donegal woman.

He said: "I have been made aware of the guilty verdict issued in the murder trial concerning Danielle McLaughlin who was killed while travelling in India in 2018.

"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.

I"n partnership with the UK, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – through the Embassy in New Delhi, Consulate General in Mumbai and Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin – has been consistently engaged on this case to seek progress towards a conclusion to the court case.

"While nothing can ease the pain of their loss, I hope that this verdict represents some closure for the 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.

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