Donegal woman Danielle McLaughlin 'raped and murdered'

Ms McLaughlin was discovered dead in Canacona, a popular tourist area in the south of the Indian state of Goa.

Local media said her body was unclothed and she had marks on her head and face.

Umesh Gaonkar, a superintendent with Goa Police, said a suspect, a local criminal arrested a day after a farmer discovered Ms McLaughlin's body, would face rape and murder charges.

The 24-year-old accused, whose name has been reported as Vikat Bhagat, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with her murder.

CCTV footage has emerged of Ms McLaughlin's final movements in which she is seen apparently walking along a street with the suspect.

Deputy superintendent Sammy Tavares told local reporters Bhagat had confessed to raping the victim and killing her.

Ms McLaughlin posted this update on social media just a few weeks ago, before her trip:

Friends have paid tribute to her on the social media site saying she will be greatly missed. One added she had 'the most beautiful soul'.

Ms McLaughlin grew up in Buncrana, Co Donegal, but reports suggest she had been living in Liverpool.

It is understood she grew up with her grandparents and had returned to Buncrana last year when her grandfather died.

Fr John Walsh, parish priest, said the woman's mother had suffered a number of bereavements.

The absolute horror of this girl's murder has stunned the community,'' he said.

We feel for her mother in particular and her siblings.

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin said Ms McLaughlin was travelling 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,'' a spokesman said.

The Irish Embassy is liaising closely with the British authorities and an Irish consular official is travelling from New Delhi to Goa.''

In 2008, British teenager Scarlett Keeling was found dead on Goa's popular Anjuna beach.

The 15-year-old drowned after allegedly being plied with drugs.

Two men, Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho, were cleared of raping and killing her by an Indian court last year.