Her mother Andrea Brannigan and sister Joleen McLaughlin Brannigan said in a statement: ‘There was no other suspect or gang involved in Danielle’s death and (Vikat) Bhagat was solely responsible for cruelly ending her beautiful life.
Danielle McLaughlin, 28, from Buncrana in County Donegal, was travelling with a female Australian friend when her body was found in a secluded spot in Canacona, an area of Goa popular with holidaymakers.
Vikat Bhagat was found guilty at the District and Sessions Court in south Goa, India, on Friday, and sentenced to life after prosecutors asked for the death sentence.
Chloe Laws, an award-winning writer and campaigner for women’s rights, told Metro the McLaughlin family’s eight-year wait for justice was far too long.
Ms McLaughlin’s family have been vocal throughout their ordeal to bring up her name and experience – which is rare, given most rape victims in India are not named to prevent them from being shunned.
