The body of Buncrana woman Danielle McLaughlin is expected to be flown home from India today.

The young tourist was murdered while exploring Goa in India on Tuesday. The post-mortem has been carried out and her body will begin the journey back to Donegal later today, with the assistance of the Irish Embassy along with the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

If all goes to plan Danielle’s body will be flown from Goa to Mumbai today, before being brought back home to her mum Andrea and her four younger sisters in Donegal early next week.

The founder of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, Colin Bell said: Danielle’s family are in limbo because nothing can be done at the moment. Nothing is definite but we are hopeful everything will go to plan.

“But it should be ok. We have the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign Office both working hard to get everything sorted.”

Two of Danielle’s friends have flown from Australia to help bring her remains back to Buncrana for her funeral.

Danielle posted a poignant message to her Facebook page before she began her adventure to India last month. The once-hopeful words are now a haunting reminder of the tragedy that occurred.

The post-mortem carried out by Indian police confirmed that the 28-year-old was murdered and sexually assaulted.

A 24 year old local man named Vikat Bhagat has been charged in connection with her death. Danielle had been celebrating the Holi Festival at a popular beach spot on the day of her murder.

The GoFundMe page set up by Danielle’s friends to assist her family with repatriation and funeral expenses has reached almost €40,000. Tributes continue to pour in for the bright young woman who was regarded as kind-hearted, happy and independent.