Irish woman found dead on Goa beach, man arrested

Danielle McLaughlin’s body was found near Deobagh beach in Canacona,  popular with tourists, police said.

A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and police say they are investigating if Ms McLaughlin was raped.

The suspect has confessed to killing Ms McLaughlin but denies sexually assaulting her, deputy superintendent Sammy Taveras said.

Officers made the arrest after obtaining CCTV images showing the suspect with Ms McLaughlin in a number of locations, he added.

Police opened a murder investigation after her body was found on Tuesday morning by a local man.

Inspector Filomeno Costa said: “The body had bruises and her face was badly smashed. Looking at the injuries we concluded that that it was a case of murder.

“We sent her body to Goa Medical College for autopsy and are awaiting a report to ascertain if she was sexually assaulted.”

Pictures from the scene show police officers standing by a body on a dirt track surrounded by trees.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Miss McLaughlin travelled to India using a British passport, but added that its embassy in India “is following up on the suspected murder”.

It said: “The Irish Embassy is liaising closely with the British authorities and an Irish consular official is travelling from New Delhi to Goa”.

Police say Ms McLoughlin had arrived in Goa on 23 February and had been staying in Arambol, northern Goa, before she travelled to Canacona with two friends.

In 2008, Briton Scarlett Keeling was found dead on Anjula beach in Goa.

The 15-year-old had been drugged, raped and was found half-naked in shallow water.