A Gofundme page has been opened to help the mother of Buncrana woman Danielle McLaughlin travel to India for the final days of the trial of the man accused of her daughter’s rape and murder.
Ms McLaughlin’s body was found in a remote part of Goa on March 14 2017. The 28-year-old had travelled to India for the annual Holi, Hindu Festival of Colours.
Within days, a local man, Vikhat Bhagat (now aged 31) was arrested and charged with murder. Since then, his trial has moved at a slow pace with more than 250 hearings taking place to date. However, last year, the Indian High Court ruled the trial must be concluded by July this year.
Ms McLaughlin’s mother, Andrea Brannigan and her younger sister Joleen hope to travel to India to deliver in person a victim impact statement. Friends of the family have now opened a Gofundme page to help cover flights and accommodation costs.
Within hours of its launch, €2,010 (£1,720), more than half of the €4,000 (£3,422) target set.
Emma Louise McMenamin, who created the appeal, said donations would make a huge difference to the family.
Ms McMenamin said: “It marks seven years (Thursday) and we are hoping for the trial to be over in July of this year. India is so far away and they (Ms Brannigan and Joleen) haven’t been able to see him or go to one hearing or court case.”
Ms Brannigan said it would be good to witness part of the trial.
She told Co Donegal’s Highland Radio: “It’s just to finally get my voice heard and for the judge to understand what loss Danielle being taken from us has caused.”
The Gofundme page can be accessed at: https://gofund.me/da4aa8f6
