‘Danielle has missed out on so, so much… we’re heartbroken’ – mother of Danielle McLaughlin
And Andrea Brannigan, 52, is devastated Danielle’s murder accused can enjoy family wedding celebrations while her eldest daughter was denied the chance of ever getting married.
“I’m so heartbroken, as are Joleen [her second eldest daughter] and my girls,” said Andrea, 52, who lives in Buncrana, with Danielle’s four younger sisters.
“Our Danielle will never have the opportunity to get married herself. She missed her friend’s wedding. She never got the chance to celebrate her 30th birthday, she missed seeing her nephew being born. She hasn’t seen her sisters growing up. Danielle has missed out on so, so much.”
Seven years ago to the day yesterday, on February 22, 2017, Andrea hugged Danielle – who would have turned 35 on February 4 – for the last time and waved her off on her travels to India, where Danielle planned to train as a yoga teacher.
But three weeks later, on March 14, 2017, Danielle’s bloodied body was found dumped on remote farmland in Canacona, South Goa, where Danielle had visited to attend the Holi festival.
Danielle had been attacked with a bottle, raped and strangled.
The verdict in Vikat Bhagat’s trial for the murder of Danielle McLaughlin is expected in July
Within hours of Danielle’s body being found, Goan local Vikat Bhagat – who Danielle knew from a previous trip to Goa – was arrested.
He was put on trial for rape, murder, violent robbery and destruction of evidence and after years of court case delays, Andrea was optimistic for a breakthrough and a verdict by July.
Earlier this month, the Sessions Court in India refused Bhagat’s application for five-day bail to go to his sister’s wedding but he appealed the decision to the High Court.
All this week, Andrea has been on tenterhooks waiting for their decision.
But she was dealt another hammer blow yesterday morning, when the British consulate contacted her with news Bhagat had been granted one-day release under police escort.
In November 2022, Andrea was also left reeling when Bhagat was let out of jail to attend his father’s funeral.
Danielle McLaughlin
This latest development is adding to Andrea’s anger and frustration at the endless delays and stop-start nature of the case, which has left the family in limbo for seven years and stopped them from grieving for Danielle.
In February last year, the family were told Danielle’s case would be one of the first to come before a new fast-track special court (FTSC) in Goa, being set up for cases of sexual violence against women and children. News a new female judge and prosecutor had taken the reins in the case and a statement from the Indian High Court setting down a July 16 deadline for the trial’s conclusion had also reassured them a verdict was within touching distance.
But now Andrea is worried Bhagat – who Indian police say is a crime gang leader – may attempt to escape with the July deadline looming.
According to Goan news reports last year, Bhagat is accused of up to six offences while in jail, including assaulting inmates and prison staff, and in 2022, it was reported a prison officer was arrested for trying to supply him drugs.
“That’s exactly what I’m worried about – he has tried to escape before,” said Andrea.
“They did video links because he was a flight risk. It’s so upsetting. I’m worried he will try to abscond.
“It’s not like he’s a model prisoner. It’s been reported he’s caused riots in the jail, he was caught with phones in the jail, caught with drugs in the jail, he made a Youtube video in the jail.
“He’s tried to escape before. He assaulted prison officers when they were taking him to court. When he doesn’t want to go to court, he doesn’t go. Anything he asks for he gets.
“Even handcuffs, I asked for handcuffs to be used, that was granted after he tried to escape and then that was disregarded so he didn’t have to wear handcuffs again. He’s being escorted by prison officers but he has no handcuffs – he could slip away. Nobody seems to know why he’s getting so much.”
The family, one of Danielle’s best friends Christy Duffy and their lawyer, Derry-based Des Doherty hope to travel to India to face Bhagat in court for the first time at the trial this summer.
“Afterwards, we can finally start grieving for Danielle and give up the fight for justice. I would like to see him in court. I want to give a statement so people know the type of person Danielle was and how much has been taken from us as a family.
“I’ll never get justice as Danielle’s not here but she’ll get some kind of justice – I know other families won’t have to go through and feel my pain.”
She added: “It’s seven years ago to the day that Danielle left home in Buncrana. I’m so annoyed at what has been taken from her and her accused can enjoy his life. He has privileges, now he is going out to a wedding but what about what everything our Danielle lost?”
Andrea and 25-year-old Joleen – whose campaign to update the Victims Charter to include Irish victims of crime abroad led to Danielle’s Amendment – are pleading with the Department of Foreign Affairs to put more pressure on the Indian authorities to bring the case to a swift conclusion.
Andrea said: “I want them to step in and do more. I’m doing everything, me and Joleen. We have no support and no liaison officers.”
