A 31-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to life in prison for the rape and murder of Irish woman Danielle McLaughlin in India in 2017.

Vikat Bhagat was sentenced this morning at the District and Sessions Court in south Goa.

Danielle McLaughlin, from Buncrana in Co Donegal, was found dead in a secluded spot in Canacona, an area of Goa popular with holidaymakers, in March 2017.

Bhagat was found guilty at the Goa court last Friday, almost eight years after Danielle’s death. 

The victim had travelled to Goa with an Australian female friend and the pair were staying in a beach hut.

They had been celebrating Holi – a Hindu spring festival – at a nearby village.

Local media reported at the time that the former Liverpool John Moores University student was discovered unclothed and that she had marks on her head and face.

Danielle was the eldest of five daughters.

Ms McLaughlin’s family travelled to India for the verdict on Friday and expressed relief after the conclusion of what they said was an “eight-year murder trial”.

Her family thanked their legal team and their supporters in helping them achieve justice.

Her mother, Andrea Brannigan, told RTE that the conclusion of the case in court allowed her to “finally start grieving for Danielle”.

“The last eight years have been tough. We’re constantly bombarding MPs, TDs, embassies, looking for answers.

“I’ve constantly been trying to fight to get justice for Danielle, because Danielle deserved justice so she could finally rest in peace and us as her family and friends can finally grieve for Danielle.

“So the last eight years have been tough. I feel like I can finally start grieving now for Danielle and I’m hoping that the rest of her family, her sisters and her friends, can now also start grieving.”

Family solicitor Desmond Doherty said the family are “exhausted” and “anxious to get home”. They are due to fly back to Ireland from India today.

He said that, by his last count, there had been more than 250 hearings as part of the court process.

With reporting from Press Association