Friends of Karen Buckley gather in Cork and Glasgow

Friends of Karen Buckley’s family today spoke about news of the death of the young woman.

Principal of St Mary’s Secondary School in Mallow, Co Cork, Yvonne Bane, said staff members were devastated to hear the news of the recovery of a body. Ms Buckley completed her Leaving Certificate at the school in 2009.

"The community at St Mary's is united in grief at the sad news concerning Karen Buckley. A prayer service has just taken place with all students and staff attendance.

We offered prayers for Karen and her family at this difficult time. The school community has been sharing warm memories of our beautiful former student over the last few days. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Buckley family at this difficult time.”

Prayers were also offered at masses in her native Mourneabbey and in Mallow this morning.

Ms Buckley is a graduate of the University of Limerick where she studied general nursing.

Head of the Nursing and Midwifery department at the University of Limerick Dr Pauline O’Reilly said support was being offered to students in the wake of the discovery of the body.

Denyse O’Brien, who grew up with the 21-year-old in Mourneabbey in Co Cork, spoke on Limerick’s Live95fm radio this morning.

“I just find that very upsetting for the family and for everybody,” Ms O’Brien said.

Now living in Limerick, where Ms Buckley began her nursing studies, Ms O’Brien travelled home to Mourneabbey Wednesday night to attend a special vigil for the occupational therapy Masters student.

“I am removed from the community a certain amount because my life is in Limerick now, but to have been in Mourneabbey last night and seen everybody come together and especially the elderly people. ...If the power of prayer could have done anything it would have had good news,” she said.

Ms O’Brien praised the work of the Scottish police whom she said treated Ms Buckley “like she was the most important person in the world, which is how the family would have wanted it treated”.

Glasgow

Ms Buckley was studying occupational therapy at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Caledonian University issued a brief statement expressing staff members deep sadness at the tragic outcome to the search for Karen.

Students also gathered at O’Neill’s Irish bar in Glasgow yesterday to remember Ms Buckley.

Spokeswoman for the bar, Katie Hall, told Cork’s 96FM that the case had resonated with the student population.

“We have strong connections with the Irish Society at the university. Everyone has been thinking and praying for the family. Everyone has been talking about it. You don’t expect anything like that to happen in your city. It really has shocked and devastated us.”

Meanwhile, Ms Buckley’s parents John and Marion Buckley travelled from Cork to Glasgow where they made an emotional appeal for the return of their daughter.

Two of Karen's brothers Kieran (28) and Brendan (27) made the journey from Sydney to support their parents while her Cork based brother Damian also travelled to Scotland to assist in the search.

Ms Buckley was a GAA enthusiast and played underage at Clyda Rovers.

Her family are well known in GAA circles. Friends of the Buckley family are running the family farm in Mourneabbey in their absence.