Frustrated by the silence of the Goan Police with regards tothe progress in the investigation of Denyse Sweeney’s murder, her family hasengaged the services of a Family Liaison Officer who along with a team fromDerbyshire Police are interacting with Goa Police. “The Goan Police have madeno attempt to talk to us or return our calls and emails”, says Maureen Sweeney,Denyse Sweeney’s eldest sister.
In their first chat directly with any Indian media, DenyseSweeney’s family talked exclusively to The Goan of their fight to get justicefor Denyse. Denyse’s death which was passed off as one of drug overdose waschanged into murder after sustained pressure from diplomatic channels on GoaGovt.
It has been a torturous two years of wait for the Sweeneyswho fought an apathetic British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, a nonchalantIndian Foreign Office and a shockingly evasive Goa Police. The fiercelymaintained that their “vibrant, caring, sensitive, loyal and fun to be around”Denyse could not have died of a drug overdose. Denyse was a trained fitnessinstructor who very passionate about animal and human rights. On her secondtrip to Goa, she had intended to volunteer at an animal sanctuary. However,when she arrived at the sanctuary the conditions were too distressing for herto continue. “We have tried to find out which sanctuary it was but I don'tthink they want to be associated so negatively” says Maureen Sweeney who hasbeen trying to piece together Denyse’s last trip to India. Which then was thesanctuary and what was it that Denyse found distressing about it?
Maureen, during her conversation with this newspaper, has also introduced a newcharacter Sudesh Gaikwad into the case. Denyse had come down to Goa in December2009 with friends. Here, she made many new friends too. Sudesh Gaikwad, a localmusician and friend of Denyse first informed them of her death throughFacebook. After reading the message, Marion, Denyse’s other sister contactedFCO. They told her that they had no reports of any British Nationals death inGoa. Anxious calls to FCO confirming Denyse's death took 48 hours to confirmofficially that Maureen and Marion had lost their sister. The Anjuna Police hasnot yet confirmed if Gaikwad has been questioned or not.
“When we were told that Denyse had died of a drug overdose we were suspiciousimmediately”, says Maureen but her suspicions were confirmed after they receivedDr. Mandar Kantak’s Autopsy Report. Kantak, Associate Professor, ForensicMedicine at Goa Medical College had said that a 4 by 3 cm wound was at the backof Denyse's head was caused by a blunt force impact. Kantak had in the samereport confirmed that “this wound was sufficient to kill her” confirms Maureen.A further British autopsy concurred with this but added that Denyse also hadextensive bruising to her left elbow and shoulder. After the British Autopsythe Coroner for Derbyshire Dr. Robert Hunter undertook investigations, whichresulted in an Inquest (which took place in Derby on 17/04/2012), the Inquestshowed Toxicology results were negative for alcohol and drugs. The Inquest wasconcluded with an "Open" verdict. The Sweeneys knew by then that itwas a fight to get Justice for Denyse.
