A 31-year-old Indian man has been sentenced to life in prison for the rape and murder of Irish woman Danielle McLaughlin in Canacona, India, in 2017.
Vikat Bhagat was sentenced this morning after being found guilty at the Margoa Principal District and Sessions Court in south Goa last Friday.
He received two life sentences - one life sentence for murder, another life sentence for rape - and a further two years for the destruction of evidence.
Those sentences will run concurrently. Bhagat can apply for release after 14 years in prison. He has already spent seven years in prison.
Ms McLaughlin, who was from Buncrana, Co Donegal, had only been in India for two weeks when she was murdered in early 2017.
Her body was discovered by a farmer in a field in a remote location near Canacona, a part of Goa popular with tourists, on 14 March 2017.
She went there to attend Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colours.
The Donegal woman had turned 28 the month before her death and had been home for the celebrations.
Ms McLaughlin had previously spent time in India as a volunteer in an orphanage and was planning to learn to teach yoga while travelling.
Bhagat, who Ms McLaughlin knew, was arrested within hours of her body being discovered.
Vikram Varma, the lawyer representing Ms McLaughlin's family, said: "Under section 302 [of the India Justice Code], he has been convicted for life imprisonment.
"Under section 376 [of the India Justice Code], he has also been convicted for life imprisonment a fine of Rs 25,000.
"For destruction of evidence, he has been convicted, which carries a maximum punishment of two years and a fine of Rs 10,000.
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"These sentences will run simultaneously. To my understanding, the family of Danielle McLaughlin is relived that there is closure … that justice has been done. It was a long trial," Mr Varma said.
Slow journey to verdict
Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime on Friday, Ms McLaughlin's mother said: "I've got justice, but it'll never bring back my daughter."
Andrea Brannigan said that the last time she spoke to Danielle was the day she was murdered.
"The day she passed away, she said, 'I'm with my friend' and the friend was the person that killed my daughter.
"She named him...she arrived here on the Sunday, 12 March. On the 13th, she wasn’t very happy with where she stayed
"She contacted the man who killed her and asked him for help to find somewhere to stay, and the rest, people know."
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Approaching eight years since Ms McLaughlin's death, the wheels of the Indian justice system turned slowly.
The case was brought to court on more than 250 occasions with several lengthy delays.
Hearings sometimes lasted only 30 minutes on any given day, and on more than one occasion they were adjourned due to the unavailability of the suspect.
Bhagat was found guilty last Friday.
'Truth for Danielle'
Before leaving India, Danielle's mother, her sister Joleen McLaughlin Brannigan, and her best friend Emma Louise McMenamin visited the location in Canacona where Danielle was murdered.
A memorial has been built and decorated in her memory. It reads 'Truth for Danielle'.
Joleen feels the memorial has changed the nature of the location.
"They've made it beautiful. It's no longer the place that we think of the bad that happened that night.
"It's tranquil and peaceful. You could just feel her (Danielle) so strongly here and you know that she'd have loved what they'd done with it," Joleen said.
"We never thought we'd be here. My mom never travelled. Louise never really travelled. It’s a big deal for us to even be here".
As the eight-year trial has drawn to a close, Andrea reflected on the loss of her eldest daughter.
"I miss the fact that she missed out on her little sisters growing up and her nephew.
"She missed out on her friends and their next stepping stones, when they got married and had children. She never got the chance."
As Joleen sat beside her mother, she recalls missing the laughter of her eldest sister.
"I just miss being able to see her and give her a hug. It's just hard knowing that she's never coming back."
'He stole her from us'
In respect of Bhagat’s conviction and sentencing, Joleen said the guilty verdict has helped bring some closure to their family.
"All we wanted was (a) guilty (verdict). We feel Danielle's truth was heard and that the world now knows that he was guilty. He done it to her and he stole her from us," Joleen said.
Andrea paid tribute to the Indian justice system and the support their family has received in Goa.
"I must personally thank the public prosecutors and the police investigators and both embassies.
"They have gone out of their way to be so welcoming since we arrived in Goa. They've met us and they've asked to meet us."
Joleen echoed her mother's sentiments.
"We thought maybe Danielle wouldn't matter here because she was a foreigner, but as the public prosecutor said on the day in court: a woman is a woman, regardless.
"They made sure her voice was heard and that she mattered just as much as any local. We are really thankful for that," she added.
Eight tough years
Andrea recounted the challenges she faced over the past eight years in her battle for justice for her eldest daughter.
"The last eight years have been tough. Constantly bombarding MPs, TDs, embassies - looking for answers.
Ms McLaughlin held British and Irish passports. Diplomats from both nations met officials in Goa on several occasions to discuss her case.
Ms McMenamin, Danielle’s best friend, organised an online fundraiser to help cover the family’s travel costs.
Andrea said if it was not for those who contributed, they would not have made it to India.
"I would like to thank anybody that contributed because they helped us get here and be at the court on Friday. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be here".
Joleen said they took their strength from their memory and love of Danielle.
"We had to fight for her. If it was one of us, Danielle would have fought. She would never have stopped. She was such a strong, powerful person.
"So, we couldn't give up for her. We had to be her voice to make sure that some kind of justice was got for her."
Andrea feels the verdict may help bring some closure to her family.
"I feel I can finally start grieving now for Danielle, and I'm hoping the rest of our family, our sisters and her friends can now also start grieving".
Danielle McLaughlin is buried in Buncrana. Her body was brought home to Donegal after her death, with the help of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
'Very difficult process'
Desmond Doherty, solicitor for Danielle McLaughlin's family said it has been a very difficult process for the family who had to deal with events thousands of miles away.
"They've done that with great dignity. They've done that also as well with great respect for the Indian legal system, because that was no easy matter to deal with either."
He said Danielle's family were able to instruct, through him, a lawyer in India, who was able to attend the trial and assist the prosecution.
"It meant that we got daily reports of the exact position as to what was happening each day at the trial, other than relying on other sources of information. It was a long process, but a satisfactory one at the end."
Mr Doherty said lawyers for Vikat Bhagat have said they will appeal the sentence and conviction.
"I think again, the family would be respectful of the legal process, and they would know that a defendant has a right of appeal, and his lawyers have already publicly stated that they would be appealing the sentence and the conviction.
"Now, this was something that we did discuss at length prior to the conviction, if there was a conviction. It is again something that will have to take its own course.
"At this point in time, the family have been successful from a legal point of view in achieving justice for Danielle."
