A 31-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison for the rape and murder of Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin in Goa in 2017. McLaughlin's family expressed gratitude for the justice served, despite ongoing challenges with violence against women in India.

A 31-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in India for the rape and murder of an Irish backpacker in Goa nearly eight years ago. The victim, 28-year-old Danielle McLaughlin, was found dead in March 2017 near the popular Palolem beach by a local farmer. An autopsy revealed that her death was caused by brain damage and strangulation.

Local resident Vikat Bhagat was charged with the crime and, following the trial, was found guilty on Friday. McLaughlin, from Buncrana in Ireland, had been celebrating the Indian festival of Holi the night before she was discovered dead.

While Indian law generally prevents the identification of rape victims, McLaughlin’s family spoke out to the media to raise awareness about her case. In a statement shared by local media, they expressed gratitude to all those involved in the pursuit of justice, acknowledging their efforts in treating McLaughlin as their own daughter and their relentless fight for justice.

India introduced stricter sexual assault laws and established fast-track courts following the gang-rape of a woman on a Delhi bus in 2012, a case that shocked the nation. However, despite these measures, violence against women continues to be a significant issue in the country. Just last month, a police volunteer received a life sentence in Kolkata for the rape and murder of a junior female doctor at the hospital where she worked.