Police are treating the death of an Irish woman in Goa as suspected murder.

The victim, named locally as Danielle McLaughlin, was found naked and with marks on her head and face in the popular beach resort of Canacona on Tuesday morning.

Police said they had arrested a 24-year-old Indian man in connection with her death and a number of others are being questioned.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out to determine if sexual assault charges will be put to the suspect.

Ms McLaughlin was in her 20s and reportedly from Liverpool but raised in Donegal.

Her mother Andrea Brannigan said her daughter would be "sadly missed".

In a statement, she added: "The family would like to express our thanks to all who have got in touch since receiving this awful news.

"As you can expect we are finding it very difficult at this trying time."

The local parish priest in Ms McLaughlin's hometown in Ireland said the community had reacted with horror.

"It has stunned the community. We feel for her mother in particular and her siblings," said Father John Walsh, parish priest of Buncrana in Co Donegal, where Ms McLaughlin grew up.

On Facebook, one person said: "Sleep peacefully Danielle, my thoughts are with your family and loved ones. The horrors you have suffered are over x x x".

Another wrote: "Love you Danielle, you had the most beautiful soul."

Ms McLaughlin's close friend Christy Duffy has already raised several thousand euro on a fundraising website to help pay for her funeral and repatriation costs.

The Foreign Office confirmed they are offering support and assistance to the family of a British-Irish woman following her death in Goa.

"Our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.

"Indian police are conducting an investigation and we are in close contact with them," they said.

In 2008, British teenager Scarlett Keeling was found dead on Goa's popular Anjuna beach.

The 15-year-old drowned after allegedly being plied with drugs.

Two men, Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho, were cleared of raping and killing her by an Indian court last year.

Miss Keeling's mother Fiona MacKeown said her heart sank after hearing of the killing in Goa, saying "it just brings it all back".

She added: "It is horrific. My heart breaks for her family and friends. I know what they are going through."