Murdered backpacker's mum continues to fight for death certificate

The parent of an Irish backpacker who was raped and murdered successful India has said she hopes an inquest into her decease volition "finally pb to getting a decease certificate".

Danielle McLaughlin, from County Donegal, was recovered dormant successful a tract successful the authorities of Goa successful March 2017.

A post-mortem introspection astatine the clip recovered encephalon harm and strangulation arsenic the origin of death.

After a proceedings lasting 8 years, Vikat Bhagat was recovered blameworthy of raping and murdering the 28 twelvemonth aged and received a beingness condemnation astatine the District and Sessions Court successful South Goa, India, successful February and is present appealing the sentence.

Ms McLaughlin's mother, Andrea Brannigan, told BBC News NI "all I ever wanted was an inquest locally truthful hopefully this volition yet pb to getting a decease certificate".

Ms Brannigan besides said, successful a connection issued connected behalf of her solicitor, that she was "grateful to the lawyer general" that the inquest into her daughter's decease volition happen.

Her parent said she was told the inquest, which she has been calling connected for years, volition hap successful Donegal "on the grounds that it would beryllium advisable, and successful the interests of justice".

Ms Brannigan said her solicitor had begun the process of providing the ineligible documentation to the coroner to assistance successful his investigation.

"I recognize and admit that the circumstances of Danielle's case, and the information that she was killed erstwhile overseas makes her lawsuit exceptional," she added.

"It is precise heartening that the applicable authorities present successful Ireland showed their compassion and attraction successful agreeing to and supporting the request for an inquest to beryllium held successful Donegal, Danielle's home, aft the horrific events that ended her beauteous beingness thousands of miles away."

BBC News NI has contacted the Office of the Attorney General successful Dublin for comment.

Family solicitor Des Doherty told BBC News NI an inquest was requested truthful a decease certificate could beryllium issued to the family.

"The household welcomes this judicial probe successful the signifier of an inquest successful Donegal adjacent though Danielle's decease happened overseas arsenic this is allowed successful definite circumstances nether Irish law," Mr Doherty added.

Rape victims cannot usually beryllium named nether Indian law. Their identities are often hidden successful a bid to support them from being shunned successful society.

In this case, Danielle McLaughlin's household person spoken to the media to rise consciousness of her case.

Ms McLaughlin had turned 28 the period earlier her decease and had been location successful Buncrana for the celebrations.

She had lone been successful India for 2 weeks erstwhile she was murdered.

The Liverpool John Moores University pupil had been staying successful a formation hut with an Australian friend.

The brace had been celebrating Holi, a Hindu festival, successful a adjacent village. She near the colony astatine nighttime and her assemblage was recovered the adjacent time by a section husbandman successful an isolated spot.

Her lawsuit was brought to tribunal connected much than 250 occasions with respective lengthy delays.