A man has been sentenced to life in prison in India for the rape and murder of Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin in 2017, her family’s solicitor confirmed.

Local man Vikat Bhagat was found guilty at the District and Sessions Court in south Goa on Friday.

Ms McLaughlin, from Buncrana in Co Donegal, was found dead in a secluded spot in Canacona, an area of Goa popular with holidaymakers, in March 2017.

The 28-year-old’s body was found by a farmer in a field in a remote location.

Vikram Verma, who assisted the prosecution during the trial, said: “It was a difficult task for the prosecution to put together all the circumstantial evidence to convince the court beyond reasonable doubt about this conviction.”

He said today their “hard work” had been recognised.

On Monday, the District and Sessions Court in South Goa, Margao, handed down a “rigorous” life imprisonment sentence for murder.

The convicted killer also received a second life term for rape, and another three years for destroying evidence. The sentences will run concurrently.

Defence counsel for Bhagat, Adv Franco, told reporters that his client would be appealing the conviction and sentence.

The investigating officer described it as a “very sensitive case”. Insp Filomina Costa added: “The verdict today is quite satisfactory.”

Danielle McLaughlin’s family solicitor, Des Doherty, said in reaction to the sentencing that it had been “a very difficult process over many years” to get to this stage.

“For Andrea, [Danielle’s mother] the road to truth and justice has been a very long and very difficult one,” the representative told BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme.

Reacting to the conviction Andrea Brannigan said: “I lost my eldest daughter, she was stolen from us, she was stolen from her sisters and friends.”

“She was also stolen the opportunity of becoming a mother herself.”