The family of tragic Danielle McLaughlin are ‘hopeful’ that a meeting between an Irish diplomat and the Chief Minister of Goa in India will fast track the murder trial which has been ongoing for the past five years.
Last month marked six years since Danielle, 28, from Buncrana in Donegal, was found dead in a secluded spot in India’s Canacona, an area of Goa popular with holidaymakers, on March 14, 2017.
She had travelled to India on a British passport where she planned to train as a yoga teacher. The night before she was found dead, Danielle had attended a Holi party near Canacona beach.
READ MORE: Goa police caught Irish woman's suspected killer 'after finding blood on his clothes and scooter'
A local man, Vikat Bhagat, has been charged with the rape and murder of Danielle and the trial opened in 2018. The 24-year-old has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape, murder, violent robbery and destruction of evidence.
The trial initially opened at Court Margao in India's South Goa on April 6, 2018, but has only continued intermittently since then taking place twice a month for 30 minutes maximum.
So far it is only a third of the way through the witnesses since it opened five years ago, leaving Danielle’s heartbroken mum Andrea and family frustrated at the slow pace.
On Thursday, Counsel General of Ireland in Western India Anita Kelly and British Deputy High Commissioner Alan Gemmell met with Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
They expressed their concerns about the slow pace of the trial and its impact on Danielle’s heartbroken family.
Following the meeting, the Irish and British diplomats released a joint statement saying it has been six years since Danielle’s murder.
“Ensuring a quick conclusion to the court case is a significant priority for the British and Irish Governments as well as, of course for Danielle’s family,” the statement read.
“We are grateful to Honorable Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for being receptive to our appeal,” they added.
Following the meeting, Danielle’s mum Andrea Brannigan told this paper: “My precious daughter Danielle’s life was unexpectedly taken from her in a brutal savage attack over six years ago.
“I continue to push for a conclusion to the court case, in the hope that I may then try and rebuild my and my family’s lives with the knowledge that I have done everything in my power that I could possibly do to get justice for Danielle.
“I am hopeful they will finally fast track Danielle’s case. It has been so frustrating," Andrea told us.
In an earlier interview with this paper, Andrea said the last time she spoke with Danielle was via text message on March 13, 2017 at 11.30am when Danielle told her she was “with my friend Vikat” and other pals.
“It’s holi and a crazy day in India. It’s safe though. I am nowhere near the crowds,” Danielle’s message continued.
Andrea replied: “Please be careful x.”
Within hours of sending that text message, Danielle was killed and the following day her body was found on an isolated stretch of open field between Agonda and Canacona beaches in south Goa, India.
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