A candlelit vigil was held in India last night to remember Buncrana native Danielle McLaughlin, who was tragically murdered on Tuesday.

Danielle Mc Laughlin

Around one hundred locals and tourists gathered to honour the young tourist in the location where her body was found in Canacona, in the southern part of Goa.

Mourners scattered flowers, photographs and gifts on the ground, along with a sign which read ‘Justice for Danielle’. The evening ceremony was said to have ended with an emotional rendition of Bob Marley’s ‘No Woman No Cry’.

“I wish I was able to have met you in real life and not at your vigil,” one attendee said.

A murder investigation has been launched into the death of the 28-year-old tourist. A post-mortem has been carried out in Panjim, the capital of Goa, and the results are expected to be released this evening.

Indian man Vikat Bhagat, 24, has reportedly confessed to the crime as the police investigation continues. Bhagat is expected to be held in police custody for seven days before the case progresses and charges may be brought against him.

The fund to assist the repatriation and funeral expenses for Danielle has reached more than three times its target at the time of publishing today. Visit the GoFundMe page here.

A family friend paid a touching tribute to Danielle on the fundraising page: “They say the brightest stars burn the quickest and no other analogy could describe Danielle’s life better, on behalf of her family thanks in advance for the donations and keep on smiling as Danielle would have wanted.”