Team Herald
PANJIM: Eight years after Danielle McLaughlin, an Irish-British citizen, who was found raped and murdered at an isolated spot between Agonda and Palolem on March 14, 2017, her mother Andrea Brannigan has kept the fight for justice on.
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An emotional Andrea Brannigan, Danielle’s mom, in a post, stated: “Today we should have been celebrating your 36th birthday. Instead, it’s a day we dread, because it’s another birthday, without you and instead of celebrating you, we are worrying about each court date and what it might mean for you again.”
McLaughlin, from Buncrana, Donegal, was found dead at a secluded spot in Canacona in March 2017.
The 28-year-old was on holiday when she was hit with a bottle before being raped and murdered. Accused Vikat Bhagat, a local, has been facing trial in the case and has pleaded not guilty.
Expressing her frustration over the eight-year long ordeal in pursuit of justice, Brannigan said: “On your 36th birthday, we are worrying about another court date scheduled for today, knowing that final arguments may end today and having no idea what that will mean. We are worrying that if the verdict is as unexpected as it is looking, we might not be there for you, in court, to make sure you are represented and that the judge knows how loved and cherished you were to us.”
It’s been eight years since Danielle’s death, Brannigan has been waiting for the case to meet its logical end. In October the family was told it would be soon and they were preparing to travel to Goa. But the case saw another setback.
Brannigan said, “For nearly 8 years we have been worrying about what we will learn with each new court date. We are so emotionally exhausted fighting for this to end, so we can finally start grieving you and the life you should have been allowed to have.”
The eight-year long trial has been mentally and financially exhausting for Danielle’s family to such an extent that they had to start a fund raiser to travel to Goa, India and to pay the legal fees.
