Murdered Danielle’s mum hopes trial will be set for July
Consulate piles pressure on Goan police seven years on
IRISH diplomats have met with authorities in Goa to discuss the progress of the long-running trial in the murder of Danielle McLaughlin, which is expected to conclude later this year.
The 28-year-old, from Buncrana, Co. Donegal, was found dead in a secluded spot in Canacona, an area of Goa popular with holidaymakers, in March 2017. The young woman was on holiday when she was hit with a bottle before being brutally raped and murdered.
Ms McLaughlin’s alleged killer, Vikat Bhagat, who is in his 30s, has been in custody since 2017 and is currently before the courts. His trial has faced numerous delays over the past six years, leading to fears that a verdict would never be reached.
However, the case has advanced significantly since the appointment of a new female judge, with 28 hearings taking place over the past six months. The Indian high court has now set a deadline for the trial to conclude on July 16 of this year.
Irish representatives from the Consulate’s office in Mumbai travelled to Goa in recent days to seek more information on the trial.
It’s understood they have met with their UK colleagues, along with Goa police representatives
‘It’s coming up to her 35th birthday’
and the prosecutor.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, Danielle’s mother Andrea Brannigan said she’s confident the trial will come to a conclusion after ‘many years’.
‘I’m very hopeful it will finally be wrapped up in July,’ she said.
‘The new female judge appointed last year has been very dismissive of attempts to stall the trial even further and is determined to make her verdict.’
Ms Brannigan added that Christmas is always a hard time of the year without her daughter.
‘Danielle always loved Christmas and was involved in everything that needed to be done around the house,’ she said.
‘One year during the holidays she was in Australia and was very upset being so far away from home. We were always so close, which is why that time of the year is particularly hard.
‘It’s also coming up to her 35th birthday in February and the seventh anniversary of her death, which will be very difficult.’
Last year, the court dismissed a bail application by murder accused Mr Bhagat because of his record of bad behaviour behind bars. He is accused of up to six offences, including assaulting fellow inmates and prison staff, according to local media.
In May, the trial was delayed for a sixth time after Mr Bhagat alleged he was assaulted by prison guards. In November 2022, the suspect learned that his father had died in hospital and formally applied to be granted bail for 30 days to conduct the last rites in accordance with Hindu custom. His request was denied, but on appeal the court granted him permission to attend and perform the ritual for two days.
In the period before his temporary release, Ms Brannigan said she was ‘sick with worry’ that Mr Bhagat would escape.
And in June 2022, a prison officer was among two men arrested for attempting to supply drugs to the suspected murderer.
In the same month, diplomats from Ireland and England travelled to Goa and met the state’s chief minister to discuss Ms McLaughlin’s murder.
Ms Brannigan said previously that she hoped these meetings will put pressure on the Indian government to ramp up its efforts in securing a verdict.
Murder accused Mr Bhagat was known to Ms McLaughlin from previous visits to the country. He allegedly admitted the crimes to police before pleading not guilty.
A postmortem showed Ms McLaughlin had suffered cerebral damage and constriction of the neck, causing her death.
The court heard how Ms McLaughlin’s remains were found in a pool of blood by a farmer at around 7am on March 13, 2017.
Investigating police officers in India allege that Mr Bhagat forced himself on her and when she resisted, he allegedly hit her with the bottle and strangled her.