‘Never-ending trial’: Irish backpacker raped and murdered in Goa 8 years ago, her mother awaits court ruling this week

The victim, 28, a dual British-Irish citizen, had come to Goa with a friend for holiday in February 2017. A former student of Liverpool John Moores University, she hailed from Buncrana in County Donegal in Ireland and had travelled to India on a British passport.

Her body was found in a pool of blood without clothes and injuries on head and face in a field near Palolem beach in South Goa’s Canacona in March 2017. The night before she had attended a Holi party near the beach. The Goa Police had charged a local, Vikat Bhagat, whom the victim had befriended in Goa, with the murder. A post-mortem had found that she died due to brain haemorrhage and constriction of the neck, and that she was raped before being murdered.

“She would have turned 36 last week. She planned to train as a yoga teacher,” Brannigan told The Indian Express over the phone from Ireland. “I’m anxious and nervous about the outcome. I have no say in the final verdict. I hope justice is delivered…and her family and her friends can finally start grieving.”

For Brannigan, the road to justice has been long, “after several delays and adjournments and a never-ending trial”. With the ruling, she hopes for some closure.

“It has been quite difficult with so many court dates and the trial continuing for years. It (the verdict) will be a relief…it’s been eight years since she was taken from us,” she said.

Brannigan plans to travel to Goa this week for the ruling but dreads facing the murder accused in the courtroom. She also intends to visit the site where her daughter was killed with the hope that “it will help in providing closure and the grieving”.

“I’m planning to reach Goa by Wednesday,” she said.

Vikram Varma, the advocate representing the family, said, “We are expecting the judgment on February 13 (Thursday)”.