Scottish Catholic Observer

The small Irish village of Mourneabbey in Western Cork is in mourning alongside Glasgow this weekend after Police Scotland confirmed the body found by officers is that of missing Irish nursing student Karen Buckley.

Remains found by police at a Milngavie farm to the north of Glasgow yesterday were later formally identified as belonging to Miss Buckley (above). Alexander Pacteau, 21, appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court today and was charged with the nursing student’s murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

A candlelit vigil will be held in Glasgow’s George Square from 5pm today in memory of Miss Buckley.

Last night hundreds packed the small church of St Michael the Archangel in Analeentha in north Cork for what parish priest Fr Joe O’Keeffe had described as ‘a Mass of hope’ prior to the latest tragic developments. The church, located close to the Buckley’s family home, has a capacity of just 300 and hundreds more people gathered outside to pay their respects.

Fr O’Keeffe admitted the community was ‘very downbeat’ after the past four days.

“This is a particularly difficult and painful time for the Buckley family and indeed for all of us,” he said. “This is a small parish community and a close-knit one.”

Miss Buckley, who was studying in Glasgow, went missing in the early hours of Sunday morning after leaving a city nightclub. Prior to the discovery of her body, Bishop William Crean of Cloyne, said: “I wish to offer prayerful support to the family of Karen Buckley at this painful time.”

A fundraising page set up by friends of Miss Buckley to support her family while they are in Scotland topped £50,000 this week before it closed.

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