Mother of murdered Daniel McLaughlin perturbed over direction of trial

Team Herald

CANACONA: Andrea Brannigan, mother of 28-year-old tourist Danielle McLaughling, who was allegedly raped and killed at Canacona on March 14, 2017, has said that she is upset and anguished over the fact that in spite being told that the case being fast tracked it is dragging for 3 years. The mother of murdered Donegal woman Danielle McLaughlin is raising concern over the direction in which the trial of the man charged with her murder is going.

The heart broken mother of Danielle McLaughlin, whose garmentless body was found at a secluded farm in Canacona, told Herald over a conversation on phone that the trial into her daughter’s murder could last years but she will never give up fighting.

Andrea Brannigan was speaking to this correspondent on Friday after a representative from Irish embassy attended the trial of the accused Vikat Bhagat in Goa earlier this week.

She said the length of the process is taking its toll on her and has affected her health.

"I just want it over, you are constantly worrying, I won’t sleep knowing he is up tomorrow," said Andrea from her hometown Brancana in Ireland.

"I want to visit Goa and look into the eyes of the person who killed my harmless daughter who till she was attacked thought that she was with a friend, you never do this to a friend," she said in a sorrowful voice.

She also expressed her anguish over the fact that the lone accused in the alleged rape and murder of Danielle McLaughlin, Vikat Bhagat is appealing against confinement in prison after a large number of mobile phones and one kilogram of narcotics were uncovered during a raid of the jail last month.

Bhagat has submitted to the court that none of the contraband was found in his room but was sentenced under the pretext of disciplinary disobedience.

Danielle’s Mother Andrea Brannigan is questioning why the focus of the trial seems to be on the rights of the accused, and not the fact that he allegedly raped and murdered her daughter.

She believes that this is causing unnecessary delays in getting justice for Danielle and said that she is firm on getting justice to her daughter who herself was a crusader for human rights when she lived.