SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2024
Team Herald
The family of Danielle McLaughlin has said that they feel devastated after the High Court of Bombay at Goa granted bail to murder accused Vikat Bhagat to attend his sisters wedding.
Local man, Vikat Bhagat, has been charged with the rape and murder of Danielle and the trial opened in 2018 but has been beset by delays. The 23-year-old has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape, murder, violent robbery and destruction of evidence. Vikat had recently applied for bail before the HC to attend his sister's wedding. The HC, while granting conditional bail to Vikat, ordered him to be taken to the wedding venue in Fatorda with Police Escort.
Mother Andrea Brannigan has been profusely complaining that the trial has been delayed greatly after accused Vikat has been attempting to get bail quoting reasons of health and other family engagements.
Ms McLaughlin, from Buncrana, Donegal was found dead in a secluded spot in Canacona, an area of Goa popular with holidaymakers, in March 2017.
The 28-year-old was on holiday when she was hit with a bottle before being raped and murdered.
Danielle, who had been using a British passport then, had travelled to India 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 in the south of Goa.
The British Deputy High Commissioner and the Consul General of Ireland Western India in April 2023 had raised concerns over the pace of the trial in Danielle McLaughlin case and its impact on her family. The British and Irish diplomats met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and discussed the long-running case of the British Irish girl who was allegedly raped and murdered in 2017 at Agonda, Palolem once again on Thursday.
However, not much difference has been seen forthcoming for the last several months in the case.
