CANACONA
Many foreigners were in tears when they converged at the crime site, as they lit candles, placed flowers, wreaths and also placed a banner with the words ‘Justice to Dannielle’ on the ground.
Such was the attendance that a policeman deployed at the site requested the foreign nationals not to disturb the site where the body was found, to avoid hampering with ongoing police investigations.
The foreign nationals readily cooperated with the police and later placed flowers and wreaths about 20 metres away from the actual spot.
Expressing shock and sadness over the incident, one women addressed the gathering by saying, “By killing her, someone has taken a precious life from this earth. We pray for peace for her soul. Justice should be done to her. The culprits should be brought to book.”
Another tourist asked all those present not to post photos of her body on social media. “Let’s pray for her soul. She was beautiful and she died at a beautiful place.”
Some media persons present at the site were at the receiving end, when a speaker said: “What must have been the state of the family to learn their girl was killed after learning from the media. It is because of newspapers their family got the sudden news.”
Later, many locals and some tourism-related traders also joined the gathering.
Meanwhile, media reports have quoted the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin as saying that McLaughlin, who held dual British-Irish citizenship, had travelled to India under a British passport.
“It has been confirmed that the woman travelled to India using a British passport, so the local British consulate have the lead responsibility in terms of dealings with the Indian authorities,” said a spokesman, who was quoted in the Shropshire Star.
“The Irish Embassy is liaising closely with the British authorities,” added the official.
An Irish consular official is reported to have travelled from New Delhi to Goa in this connection.
