Lord of the Dance
Friends of murdered Irish woman Danielle McLaughlin plea for phone footage of events prior to her attack
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Friends of murdered Irish woman Danielle McLaughlin plea for phone footage of events prior to her attack

FRIENDS of murdered Danielle McLaughlin have made an international plea for phone footage to help identify any potential witnesses to events leading up to her attack in India last month. 

Ms McLaughlin died in March after being raped and murdered in Goa, India, while celebrating the Hindu festival of Holi.

The 28-year-old was found unclothed with marks on her head and face in a wooded spot in the popular tourist area of Canacona.

The young Irishwoman, who was travelling on a British passport, was born in Glasgow but was raised in Buncrana, Co. Donegal.

The 'Truth for Danielle' campaign was set up by her friends shortly after her death to establish what happened to Ms McLaughlin in Goa.

Now, the group and Derry solicitor Desmond J Doherty, along with an international legal team, have made an appeal for any phone footage which may offer any insight into the days leading up to Danielle's death.

In a statement, a spokesman for the group said: "To date, one person has been charged with criminal offences in relation to the untimely death of Danielle. We seek truth and justice.

"We are making an international plea for help and assistance to all those who believe they can provide us with any information at all.

"At this time we are especially interested in any mobile phone or cellular device footage that you may have, if you were present in Goa for the Holi Festival in the area of the Festival Valley at Palolem Beach and Collomb Bay on March 13 2017, and the days leading up to then.

"We are seeking to identify all potential witnesses from the footage and photographs that so many people have already sent to us."

Ms McLaughlin 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.

She left the village late at night and her body was found the next day, Superintendent Umesh Gaonkar from Goa Police said.

Supt Gaonkar said a post-mortem examination showed that Danielle McLaughlin suffered cerebral damage and constriction of the neck, causing her death.

He also said a suspect was arrested a day after a farmer discovered Ms McLaughlin’s body and that he would face rape and murder charges.

Deputy superintendent Sammy Tavares told local reporters that the suspect had been arrested after he had confessed to raping and killing the victim.

If you have images or footage email [email protected] with the date, time and location, identifying any person that you can.