CANACONA: At 5.30 pm, on Wednesday, a vigil-cum-prayer meeting was held at the crime scene at Devabhag- Agonda for the departed soul of young Danielle McLaughlin. Around 200 people, including foreigners as well as locals, attended the prayer meet. The scene was intense and smacked with emotion and fear.
Two female foreigner tourists who were friends of the deceased and who had organised this meet, were visibly disturbed.
Initially, they had refused to speak to the Herald and did not want “publicity” of the meet. However, when convinced that through media reports, the deceased would get justice, they gave in and spoke to Herald at length. Fear and emotion was writ large on their faces while they vented out their anger. Some even said they would want to leave Goa soon as according to them “Goa was not safe and that they would never return”.
Dayanand Pagi, counsellor from the beach belt of Palolem called Herald later that evening to sympathise over the loss of the young Irish girl and suggested to the local administration to call for a meeting of the local tourism stakeholders and tourists who are staying in Canacona to appraise and convince them about the steps they will take henceforth to avoid such incidents and to ensure a safe environ to the tourists.
