THE family of Derby mum Denyse Sweeney have spoken of their "roller-coaster year" in their quest for the truth as to how she died.
Miss Sweeney's sisters, Maureen and Marion, say the festive period has been one where the family got together to think about her.
And they say they are hoping to have enough money to travel to India, where Miss Sweeney died two years ago, early this year.
Maureen said: "Christmas has been the time when we all came together to think of Denyse.
"Christmas was a time when our family were around each other, supporting each other and remembering the good times we had with Denyse. It has been such a roller-coaster year.
"We've had the highs, the lows and the shocks. Hopefully, 2013 will bring us the answers we need."
Mum-of-two Miss Sweeney was 34 when she died in the "hippy paradise" resort of Goa in April 2010.
She was reported to have collapsed in a bar "as though she had taken the drug Ketamine".
Her body was taken to hospital, where she was declared dead less than an hour later.
Her Indian autopsy report said she had "most likely" had a drug overdose.
But the results of a toxicology test, carried out in India 21 months after her death and revealed at her inquest in Derby in April, showed there were no illegal substances in he system.
Her family in Derby – sisters Maureen, 43, Marion, 41, son Ben, 19, and niece Rochelle, 21 – believe she was murdered.
Together with the Derby Telegraph, they have launched a campaign for the truth about how Miss Sweeney came about her death.
Marion, of Finsley Walk, Sunny Hill, said: "The highs were most definitely when we heard the Indian police had agreed to reopen the investigation.
"There was a feeling of elation, joy. You just punch the air in victory."
But Maureen, of Underhill Avenue, Derby, said the family had experienced some dark days, too.
She said: "There have been times when you feel you have been knocking on all these doors and nothing has happened.
"We've had a battle with the Foreign Office, which we feel has dragged its heels helping us.
"And every time we hear anything about other people's dealings with what we feel is a corrupt police force in India, our hearts sink.
"There have been days over the past year when we've felt like giving up, throwing in the towel.
"But once we get the Christmas period over with, the fight starts again and we will see about getting out to Goa to see if we can find out the truth about how Denyse died."
To show support for the Sweeney family, visit their Justice for Denyse Facebook page or follow then on Twitter, @justice4Denyse.
