Scottish Catholic Observer

The hometown priest of an Irish woman who has gone missing in Glasgow has revealed that everyone in the Cork village she’s from is praying for her safe return.

Villagers in Mourneabbey in Ireland are to stage a special prayer vigil for the safe recovery of student Karen Buckley, 24. Ms Buckley (above) disappeared after leaving a nightclub in Glasgow’s West End on Saturday night. The police search refocused last night on Dawsholm Park, in Kelvindale, Glasgow, as her handbag was found there.

Her parents, John and Marion Buckley, who operate a farm in Mourneabbey, flew to Glasgow on Monday morning to support the search for their daughter.

Fr Joe O’Keeffe, Mourneabbey parish priest, told the Irish Independent the thoughts and prayers of the entire community were with the Buckley family.

“They are a highly respected and very well-liked family and everyone here is praying for Karen’s safe recovery,” Fr Joe O’Keeffe said. “We are doing everything we can to support them as a parish and as a community. People are very, very worried for Karen. There will be a special Mass for her.”

Ms Buckley studied at St Mary’s Secondary School in Mallow before studying for her nursing degree at Limerick University.  She moved to Scotland in January to prepare for her masters degree in occupational therapy at the Glasgow Caledonian University.

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