Murdered backpacker's mum says killer stole her future

A young woman is standing with her back angled towards the camera and she is looking over her shoulder and smiling. She has wavy hair and the sun is shining down on her. She's on a boat out in a green river surrounded by trees. She's wearing a top with a black, yellow and orange design on it.McLaughlin family

Danielle McLaughlin's body was found in Goa in 2017

Dean McLaughlin, Matt Fox and Catherine Doyle
BBC News NI

The mother of an Irish woman who was raped and murdered while backpacking in India has said her killer "stole her" from family and friends.

Danielle McLaughlin, 28, from County Donegal, was found dead in a field in the western state of Goa in March 2017.

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

Vikat Bhagat was found guilty at the District and Sessions Court in south Goa, India, on Friday and could face life imprisonment, but prosecutors have asked for the death penalty.

A man, wearing a face mask, is being lead away by police.Mukesh Kumar

Vikat Bhagat was found guilty at the District and Sessions Court in south Goa, India

His defence team appealed for leniency.

He will be sentenced next Monday.

'My daughter never leaves my mind'

Reacting to the guilty verdict on Friday, Danielle's mother Andrea Brannigan told BBC News NI she was "glad and relieved it is over".

"I am relieved that the person who killed my daughter has been convicted of her murder today," she said.

"I lost my eldest daughter, she was stolen from us, she was stolen from her sisters and friends.

"She was also stolen the opportunity of becoming a mother herself.

"There was a lot stolen from us and from her".

Ms Brannigan travelled to India for the verdict and said it was a difficult experience seeing the man who murdered her daughter in court.

"He [Vikat Bhagat] wouldn't stare back at us, he wouldn't look back at us," she said.

A woman smiles into the camera. She has face paint on her cheeks of a shamrock and a tricolour flag. PA

Ms McLaughlin's family said they hope Danielle 'can rest in peace'

While in India the family visited the field where Ms McLaughlin's body was discovered.

"It was very hard, overwhelming and difficult but I am glad I went," she said.

Ms Brannigan said her daughter never left her mind and she would always be remembered for her "spirit, kindness and laugh".

Rape victims cannot usually be named under Indian law. Their identities are often hidden in a bid to protect them from being shunned in society.

In this case, Ms McLaughlin's family have spoken to the media to raise awareness of her case.

Reading out a family statement after the verdict, Ms McLaughlin's sister, Joleen McLaughlin Brannigan, said Danielle "lived every day to the fullest".

"We have lost nearly eight years of our lives fighting for Danielle," she said.

"We are so thankful that we can now start grieving her immeasurable loss.

"She made the most of her 28 years, and lived every day to the fullest.

"She was so kind, and always so happy - she didn't deserve what he put her through.

"We are so grateful to be able to be here for the verdict and see Goa that Danielle loved so much."

Three women walking across a road in Goa, all have long brown hair, woman on left is wearing cream blouse and brown skirt with sandles, woman in middle is wearing blue dress with purple scarf, woman on right is in checkered black and white top with black trousers, a bright blue crossbody bag and sandles There are plants and vehicles visible in the backgroundMukesh Kumar

Danielle's sister Jolene McLaughlin Brannigan (left) and mother Andrea Brannigan (centre) travelled to Goa for the verdict on Friday

Ms McLaughlin, who grew up in Buncrana, travelled to India in February 2017.

She was there for two weeks before she was murdered.

The Liverpool John Moores University student had been staying in a beach hut with an Australian friend.

The pair had been celebrating Holi, a Hindu festival, in a nearby village.

She left the village at night and her body was found the next day by a local farmer in an isolated spot.

A young woman is posing in front of the Taj Mahal. She's standing down the lawn that leads up to the entrance with her finger pointed at the top of the building. She has wavy auburn hair tied up in bun and is wearing a green top with a blue and black scarf over her shoulders. Small thin trees are lined up along a fountain leading up to the building. The ivory coloured building has rotundas on the roof.McLaughlin family

Danielle McLaughlin, who grew up in County Donegal, travelled to India in February 2017

Buncrana and Fahan parish priest Fr Francis Bradley, who knew Danielle, described her as "bubbly, effervescent and an intrepid adventurer".

Fr Bradley said the family have been through "an unimaginable ordeal" and said he is "incredibly thankful" that they have received this outcome for Danielle.

Yellow flowers, and pink and white flowers and pots are lying on soil next to a photo of a young woman standing with children.

Locals left photos, flowers and candles near where Ms McLaughlin's body was found

On Friday morning, Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Harris paid tribute to Ms McLaughlin's family, in particular her mother "for her determination and resilience in the face of unimaginable tragedy".

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

"May Danielle rest in peace."

Ms McLaughlin, who had dual Irish and British citizenship, travelled to India using a British passport.

In 2018, the then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar met and apologised to her family after a misunderstanding about her citizenship.

Her body was brought home to Donegal with the help of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

She is buried in her hometown of Buncrana in the Republic of Ireland.

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