The mother of Danielle McLaughlin, a 28-year-old Irish woman raped and murdered in Goa, India, in 2017, has expressed devastation after the accused killer applied for bail citing Covid-19 delays. Andrea Brannigan told the PA news agency she is terrified that Vikat Bhagat, the suspect, will be released and potentially flee justice.
Danielle McLaughlin, from Buncrana, County Donegal, was found dead in a secluded spot in Canacona, a popular tourist area in Goa, in March 2017. A post-mortem examination revealed she suffered cerebral damage and constriction of the neck. Bhagat has been in custody since his arrest.
Speaking ahead of Monday's court hearing, Ms Brannigan said: 'I was devastated to learn that the defendant has applied for bail and it’s just brought all the horrific memories of what happened to my daughter back to the surface. I am terrified that the court is going to set him free on bail.'
Radd Seiger, a spokesman for the family, called the bail application an 'appalling development' and expressed concern that Bhagat might flee. 'The family are very much in the dark about what is going on and struggle to understand the nature of legal proceedings in other countries,' he said.
The case has been delayed due to the pandemic, with Bhagat's lawyers arguing that a trial is unlikely to take place soon. The family has waited four years for justice, with Ms Brannigan stating: 'It’s as painful today as it ever has been.'
