Irish mother still fighting for justice for daughter murdered in India seven years ago

Danielle McLaughlin was found dead after the Hindu Holi festival, the festival of colours, which symbolises the triumph of good over evil, light over dark, on March 13, 2017.

A man accused of murdering Irish charity volunteer and backpacker Danielle McLaughlin in India seven years ago is due in court on Saturday.

Vikat Bhagat, 31, has been accused of the rape and murder of Ms McLaughlin in the popular tourist destination of Goa in March, 2017. He denies the charges.

Ms McLaughlin, who had previously volunteered in an Indian orphanage, had returned to India to study yoga and was in Goa at the time of the Hindu Holi festival, the festival of colours, which symbolises the triumph of good over evil, light over dark, on March 13, 2017.

Danielle McLaughlin had previously volunteered in an Indian orphanage. Photo: Family handout/PA

But after celebrating the festival with friends, the 28-year-old's bloodied body was found in a field in southern Goa on March 14. Ms McLaughlin's mother, Andrea Brannigan, said that seven years after she received the terrible news that her beloved daughter had been murdered, she is still waiting for justice.

“I was told seven years ago today that Danielle was gone and I’m still fighting for justice for her," Ms Brannigan told the Irish Examiner. “I’m hoping that the trial will conclude this year but I’m not 100% sure that it will. We’ve already faced so many delays.

“Last week it was adjourned because he was in hospital.

There have been a lot of delay tactics. A few times they couldn’t find him in the jail to take him to court.

“And even though it's murder it is still being heard in a lower court.” 

The accused was produced from the Central Jail Colvale to the District Court of South Goa on Thursday but he was remanded back into custody. Arguments and evidence are still being heard in the almost seven-year trial and the next sitting is on Saturday.

But despite the lengthy delays, Ms Brannigan said that one positive development has been the appointment of a female judge and female public prosecutor to the case who Ms Brannigan has faith may come to a proper judgement. 

The case has progressed more quickly since her appointment, Ms Brannigan said, and the trial is now due to conclude by July.

Ms Brannigan has had to pay tens of thousands of euros to lawyers to push her daughter’s case through, although her Irish solicitor, Des Doherty, has not had any payment but has helped the family anyway.

“I was told that if we didn’t hire a lawyer nothing much would happen with the case,” she said.

I’m not the only one going through this. Any family who has a loved one who died abroad has to pay huge amounts of money for lawyers, has to fight through a foreign legal system.

“And there are lots of tourists who have died in suspicious circumstances in Goa. 245 tourists died there over 12 years. Just after Christmas a UK tourist was found dead there."

Danielle’s friends heard about her death before her mother.

“It was 8.30pm on March 14 when I was told. All my dreams died when Danielle passed away. It makes it harder knowing that other people knew about your daughter’s death before you."

Ms Brannigan is adamant that she will go to India for the sentencing. “I want to read out my victim impact statement in person," she said.

Despite asking for a videolink to the court, this has never been permitted over the seven years, although it has been permitted for witnesses.

Vikat Bhagat (pictured) has been accused of the rape and murder of Ms McLaughlin.

Danielle's body was repatriated to her family in Donegal in the weeks after her death. She is now buried near the family home. But Danielle’s face had been so badly beaten that despite efforts to reconstruct her pretty features, she “didn’t look like her anymore," her mother said. 

"A handkerchief was placed over her face when we got her back. The undertaker warned me not to look at her but I had to. I took the handkerchief off and her sister started squealing. The younger girls didn’t see her.

“I started playing with her hair but I was told not to because the wax on her forehead would melt. Her hands were skeletal. He had smashed her face in with a rock. He wanted to leave her unrecognisable.

“It’s hard. Really hard. I go to her grave almost every day. I took her flowers there this morning and I’ll go back there with the girls later today.

And time is not making it easier. I actually think it’s getting harder. Her friends said the same. Maybe that’s because we think the case may be coming to an end and we’re scared of the verdict.

“I just need it over now. I need to be able to grieve. But I’m still having to fight for justice for my daughter. It’s draining. It’s exhausting. But we’ll never give up.” 

A fundraiser has been set up to help Ms McLoughlin's family travel to India for some of the murder trial. People can donate on GoFundMe.