Mother of Irish backpacker murdered in India welcomes inquest

The mother of an Irish backpacker who was raped and murdered in India has said she hopes an inquest into her death will “finally lead to getting a death certificate”.

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

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

After a trial lasting eight years, Vikat Bhagat was found guilty of raping and murdering the 28 year old and received a life sentence at the District and Sessions Court in South Goa, India, in February and is now appealing the sentence.

Ms McLaughlin’s mother, Andrea Brannigan, told BBC News NI “all I ever wanted was an inquest locally so hopefully this will finally lead to getting a death certificate”.

Ms Brannigan also said, in a statement issued on behalf of her solicitor, that she was “grateful to the attorney general” that the inquest into her daughter’s death will happen.

Her mother said she was told the inquest, which she has been calling on for years, will happen in Donegal “on the grounds that it would be advisable, and in the interests of justice”.

Ms Brannigan said her solicitor had begun the process of providing the legal documentation to the coroner to assist in his investigation.

“I understand and appreciate that the circumstances of Danielle’s case, and the fact that she was killed when abroad makes her case exceptional,” she added.

“It is very heartening that the relevant authorities here in Ireland showed their compassion and care in agreeing to and supporting the requirement for an inquest to be held in Donegal, Danielle’s home, after the horrific events that ended her beautiful life thousands of miles away.”

BBC News NI has contacted the Office of the Attorney General in Dublin for comment.

Family solicitor Des Doherty told BBC News NI an inquest was requested so a death certificate could be issued to the family.

“The family welcomes this judicial investigation in the form of an inquest in Donegal even though Danielle’s death happened abroad as this is allowed in certain circumstances under Irish law,” Mr Doherty added.

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, Danielle McLaughlin’s family have spoken to the media to raise awareness of her case.

Ms McLaughlin had turned 28 the month before her death and had been home in Buncrana for the celebrations.

She had only been in India for two weeks when 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.

Her case was brought to court on more than 250 occasions with several lengthy delays.