The father of murdered backpacker Danielle McLaughlin has told of his shock over her tragic death. 

Edward Donnelly, 43, only found out that he was a dad to Danielle, 28, in 2012 and met with his daughter on three occasions before her ill-fated trip to India. 

They met when Edward lived in Ireland, where Danielle had grown up after mum Andrea Brannigan moved shortly after becoming a parent for the first time. 

Andrea and Edward were childhood sweethearts and only 17 and 15-years-old respectively when Danielle was born. 

No father was recorded on Danielle's birth certificate until years after she was born when a man called John Brannigan made a declaration of parentage which made him the legal father. 

Edward finally found out the truth late in 2012 when he consoled Andrea over the death of her cousin. 

Tragic Danielle had travelled to India to celebrate the Holi festival -- a Hindi tradition celebrating colours and love. 

But sadly that day would be the last time the Glasgow-born woman was seen alive. 

Danielle had grown up in Buncrana in County Donegal and later attended Liverpool's John Moores University. 

Edward, a dad-of-five who lives in the Govan area of Glasgow, said he could not believe the news when his ex-girlfriend Lynn Mullan, 51, called him. 

He said: "My ex told me about it when I was still in the pub. I couldn't believe it. It knocked me for six. I'm shocked. 

"I would have loved to have got to know Danielle a lot better than I did. I really only got to know her for a short period of time. 

"I wanted to strike up a relationship with her. I would look up her adventures on Facebook and she always looked like she was having a lot of fun. 

"She was a one of a kind. 

"I was always under the illusion that Danielle would want to speak to me again and that we'd be close. 

"In the back of my mind I think I always knew that she was my daughter." 

Danielle's corpse was found in a pool of blood last Tuesday on a beach near the Indian Dreamcatcher resort on Palolem beach near the Goan city of Canacona. 

Police in India have arrested 23-year-old Vikhat Bhagat who is said to have confessed to the killing. 

Danielle and Bhagat had been spotted by CCTV together in a bar last Monday and were seen leaving on a scooter. 

A similar looking vehicle and clothing covered in blood were all found when Bhagat was arrested at his home last Tuesday. 

A backpack containing Danielle's clothes was found in a nearby field. 

Police say that Bhagat denies charges of sexual assault but confessed to murdering the holidaymaker while in custody. 

Bhagat was out on bail in connection with an assault charge on a travel agent at the time of the killing. 

One of the last men to see her alive, 37-year-old taxi driver Rajesh Sarokomart Pant, has denied any role in her death. 

He was one of six men brought in by police last week for questioning after he was spotted spending hours drinking with her at the Green Park bar on the night of her death. 

The cab driver has since been released on bail. 

The lawyer of Glasgow-born Danielle's family has said that she was slashed to death by a broken beer bottle and that Bhagat did not act alone. 

Lawyer Vikram Varma said: "Danielle was 5'8" tall and she was really strong. This fellow Bhagat, he does not look strong and muscular. 

"I doubt he had the strength to overcome Danielle on his own. If she was intoxicated there would have been no need for the terrible injuries she suffered."