Updated 7.20pm
AROUND 1000 GLASGOW LOCALS gathered this evening to hold a vigil for the late Karen Buckley.
The young student’s parents took part in the emotional event, hugging some participants.
The nurse was reported missing by her friends following a night out at a club near their flat last Saturday, sparking a major police search.
Her body was found at a farm to the north of the city overnight on Wednesday.
A 21-year-old man, Alexander Pacteau, appeared in court in Glasgow today charged with her murder.
Vigil
Locals in Glasgow gathered this evening to remember the Cork student, whose body was found yesterday on a farm on the outskirts of the city.
The gathering took place in Glasgow’s St George’s Square at 5pm.
Karen Buckley’s parents attended, and hugged many of the people there, organiser Rosie Kane told RTÉ Six One News.
“The only hope is somehow Glasgow reached out to them and somehow we showed them we care,” she said.
And although Karen has been taken, she won’t be forgotten. Karen won’t die twice, because we’ll keep her alive in Glasgow and we’ll demand a safer city for young women who want to enjoy themselves and have a nice night out. They should be safe and Karen should have been safe and our hearts are breaking for strangers.
Kane told RTÉ that the last few days have been “heart-wrenching”.
The worst bit about the whole thing was a young woman from Cork came to Glasgow. She went on a night out with friends, she put on her best make-up, her best clothes, and she went to have a great time and a dance just like any other girl her age – and she never came home.
The nursing student was reported missing after a night out with friends at a nightclub near their flat.
Following an extensive search throughout this week, police in Scotland yesterday confirmed that remains found at a farm were that of the student.
Kane said that at first, the vigil was “quite dark and a bit scary”, as everyone was upset. But people began arriving with flowers and candles, and 1000 gathered to remember the Irish student. Music was also played at the event.
The club where she was last seen, The Sanctuary, remained closed last night as a mark of respect.
Prayer services and vigils have already been held in her native Cork, and at her former university in Limerick.
“We could embrace each other in Karen’s honour and hope that those hurt by loss and fear and trauma will know we care,” the event page for the vigil reads.
Our hearts are breaking for her and sadly we have another enormous painful space in this city.
Students at the university the Cork woman’s attended have been laying flowers.
Floral tributes were also laid at the High Craighton Farm where the remains were found.
A fund raising money to support the student’s parents has so far raised £50,0001, racing past its target of £5,000. Close to 3,000 people have now made a donation.
- Additional reporting Aoife Barry
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