by Dionne Meehan
A FUNDRAISER has been set up to assist the family of a murdered Donegal woman as they hope to travel to India for the conclusion of her trial later this year.
Danielle Mc Laughlin was just 28-years-old when she was murdered in Canacona, South Goa, India on March 14, 2017.
The Buncrana native, who was attending the Holi festival known as the Hindu festival of colours, had been attacked with a bottle, raped and strangled.
Hours after her body was found, Goan local Vikat Bhagat, who Danielle was acquainted with from a previous trip, was arrested.
He was subsequently charged with her murder, however, due to flaws in the Indian justice system his trial is yet to conclude seven years on.
Making an appearance on RTE’s Prime Time last Tuesday night, Danielle’s sister Joleen described the trial as being “a long road that’s never ended”.
However, as Danielle’s trial now begins to progress, her mother Andrea is hopeful it could be ending this year.
Louise McMenamin, a life-long friend of Danielle’s, has set up a GoFundMe in order to help Andrea and Danielle’s young sisters, Joleen and Skye, travel to and stay in safe accommodation in Goa for the end of the trial.
The money raised will give them the chance to face the accused as well as visiting the site where Danielle was murdered and abandoned.
Whilst in India, the family also hope to meet some of her friends and their Indian legal representation.
Hoping this trip will bring Danielle’s family some much-needed closure, Louise took the time to express her gratitude in advance of donations.
Taking to social media on Thursday to mark Danielle’s anniversary, her sister Joleen said the family will “never, ever” forgive Vikat Bhagat, Danielle’s murderer, for what he did.
“Instead we will focus on making sure that we will be her voice and that he will never be able to hurt another girl again,” she said.
Describing Danielle as being like her second mother, Joleen said she was the “proudest” big sister.
“Skye will never truly know Danielle and the incredible person she was.
“She will never feel her influence.
“All I can do is make sure a little bit of Danielle will rub off on her through all our stories and videos.
“Danielle was supposed to be our past, future and present but because of that monster she has become our past.
“All we can do is remember the person she was and think about the person she could have been when ‘she grew up’,” she said.
Making sure Danielle’s voice is heard seven years on, Joleen said her grief is “still so raw” due to the fact her family are still fighting for justice.
“The amount of setbacks we have seen and everything we have heard since her death has been so traumatising and overwhelming yet we are not allowed to let it get to us to ensure we can still fight for Danielle.
“All we want now is for this nightmare to end and that her killer will finally be found guilty,” she said.
The trial, which has been plagued by time delays, is scheduled to commence in July this year.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)