Man found guilty of rape and murder

The mom of an Irish girl who was raped and murdered whereas backpacking in India has stated her killer “stole her” from household and associates.

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

A autopsy examination discovered mind injury and strangulation as the reason for demise.

Vikat Bhagat was discovered responsible on the District and Periods Court docket in south Goa, India, on Friday and will face life imprisonment, however prosecutors have requested for the demise penalty.

His defence workforce appealed for leniency.

He will likely be sentenced subsequent Monday.

Reacting to the responsible verdict on Friday, Danielle’s mom Andrea Brannigan advised BBC Information NI she was “glad and relieved it’s over”.

“I’m relieved that the one that killed my daughter has been convicted of her homicide right now,” she stated.

“I misplaced my eldest daughter, she was stolen from us, she was stolen from her sisters and associates.

“She was additionally stolen the chance of changing into a mom herself.

“There was lots stolen from us and from her”.

Ms Brannigan travelled to India for the decision and stated it was a tough expertise seeing the person who murdered her daughter in courtroom.

“He [Vikat Bhagat] would not stare again at us, he would not look again at us,” she stated.

Whereas in India the household visited the sphere the place Ms McLaughlin’s physique was found.

“It was very exhausting, overwhelming and tough however I’m glad I went,” she stated.

Ms Brannigan stated her daughter by no means left her thoughts and she or he would all the time be remembered for her “spirit, kindness and chortle”.

Rape victims can not often be named beneath Indian regulation. Their identities are sometimes hidden in a bid to guard them from being shunned in society.

On this case, Ms McLaughlin’s household have spoken to the media to boost consciousness of her case.

Studying out a household assertion after the decision, Ms McLaughlin’s sister, Joleen McLaughlin Brannigan, stated Danielle “lived day by day to the fullest”.

“We’ve got misplaced practically eight years of our lives preventing for Danielle,” she stated.

“We’re so grateful that we will now begin grieving her immeasurable loss.

“She made probably the most of her 28 years, and lived day by day to the fullest.

“She was so sort, and all the time so blissful – she did not deserve what he put her by means of.

“We’re so grateful to have the ability to be right here for the decision and see Goa that Danielle liked a lot.”

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

She was there for 2 weeks before she was murdered.

The Liverpool John Moores College pupil had been staying in a seashore hut with an Australian good friend.

The pair had been celebrating Holi, a Hindu competition, in a close-by village.

She left the village at night time and her physique was discovered the subsequent day by a neighborhood farmer in an remoted spot.

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

Fr Bradley stated the household have been by means of “an unimaginable ordeal” and stated he’s “extremely grateful” that they’ve obtained this consequence for Danielle.

On Friday morning, Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Harris paid tribute to Ms McLaughlin’s household, particularly her mom “for her dedication and resilience within the face of unimaginable tragedy”.

“Whereas nothing can ease the ache of their loss, I hope that this verdict represents some closure for the household,” he stated.

“Could Danielle relaxation in peace.”

Ms McLaughlin, who had twin Irish and British citizenship, travelled to India utilizing 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 physique was introduced residence to Donegal with the assistance of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Belief.

She is buried in her hometown of Buncrana within the Republic of Eire.