THE MOTHER OF the Donegal woman who was murdered in India has said that the young woman will be “sadly missed by us all”.
Andrea Brannigan was speaking after the discovery of the body of her daughter Danielle McLaughlin (28) in a field in the popular tourist state of Goa.
“The family would like to express our thanks to all who have got in touch since receiving this awful news,” Brannigan told the Press Association.
As you can expect we are finding it very difficult at this trying time. We want to thank the Irish and British consulates, along with Colin from the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, and many friends who have assisted at this time. Danielle will be sadly missed by us all.
McLaughlin was born in Glasgow and grew up in Buncrana, Co Donegal before going to university in Liverpool.
She had left Ireland in February to go travelling and was in the coastal Canacona area celebrating the Holi festival.
McLaughlin’s body was found in a naked state in a field yesterday morning with an autopsy being carried out to ascertain whether she was sexually assaulted.
Indian police say that a murder investigation has been launched and the Press Association is reporting that a man has been arrested.
The Irish and British foreign affairs departments are both working together as McLaughlin had been travelling on a British passport.
The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust has also been helping the family in the return of her body to Ireland.
A Go Fund Me page has also been set up to help her family cover further travel costs so they can accompany her body home.
The page was aiming to raise €10,000 but is has already surpassed €20,000.
“There is nothing I need to say about Danielle as anyone who knew her, knew that she was a beautiful and kind-hearted, funny young lady who loved life and was a loyal and devoted friend, sister and daughter,” Christy Duffy said on the Go Fund Me page.
They say the brightest stars burn the quickest and no other analogy could describe Danielle’s life better, on behalf of her family thanks in advance for the donations and keep on smiling as Danielle would have wanted.
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