An Indian man who raped and murdered an Irish backpacker eight years ago has been sentenced to life in prison.

Danielle McLaughlin, from County Donegal, was found dead by a farmer in March 2017 near a popular tourist beach in Goa.

The 28-year-old had been raped and strangled, an autopsy found.

Vikat Bhagat, 31, was found guilty at a court in India on Friday.

Prosecutors involved in the case had asked for Bhagat to be sentenced to death.

Instead, he was sentenced to “rigorous” life imprisonment for murder on Monday, while also receiving a second life term for rape and three years for destroying evidence.

McLaughlin’s family said in a statement that they and her friends were “thankful to the public prosecutor and the investigating officer for justice”.