Karen Buckley’s distraught parents comforted each other yesterday as they joined hundreds of people at a candlelit vigil for their tragic daughter.
Tearful Marian and John Buckley read touching messages and tributes at Glasgow Caledonian University where the Co Cork nurse was a student.
One poignant note said: “Another angel has arrived in heaven.”
Hours earlier the man accused of killing the 24-year-old appeared in court.
Alexander Pacteau was charged with murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice. The 21-year-old made no plea and was remanded in custody.
Hours later, tearful John and Marian Buckley attended a candlelit vigil at Glasgow Caledonian University.
They stopped to hug each other as they studied messages left by dozens of pals and strangers at the college where the Co Cork student had studied for four months.
The visit by Karen’s parents to the college came four days after they flew to Scotland from their home in Mourneabbey in a bid to help find their only daughter.
And it came a day after remains discovered at a farm north of the city were identified as the missing 24-year-old.
Karen’s flatmate Aoife Dooley left a heart-wrenching message among a bouquet of white flowers, describing her friend’s last words to her.
She wrote: “Kazza, I think you knew how much you meant to me. I am lucky to have known you. Your last words to me that night were that you loved me and I am so grateful for that.
“You’re an amazing special girl and I hope you’re happy.
“I will miss us wearing the same clothes, your laughter, your smile – and most of all your stones! You made me so happy and I would do anything to have you back. Love you, miss you.”
Another friend added: “I can’t believe you’re gone. We already miss you so much.
“The world is a different place without you. Words cannot express how much I’m going to miss you.”
A card from “the girls at The Bistro” said: “Another angel has arrived in heaven.”
Showing how deeply Karen’s loss has been felt by the university, tributes were left by everyone from office workers to security guards.
A card from the marketing department said: “Taken too soon. We send love and our deepest sympathies to your family at this tragic time.
“Although we never had the chance to get to know you, your loss has shaken our community.”
A piper played as 300 mourners paid their respects. Some laid flowers and others sang Scottish and Irish songs before a minute’s silence was held in tribute to Karen.
The tragic woman was seen on CCTV leaving the Sanctuary nightclub in Glasgow’s West End with a man in the early hours of Sunday. Her friends raised the alarm later that day after she failed to return to her flat in Hill Street.
Specialist police divers, a helicopter crew and search dogs were all involved in the search for the qualified nurse who only moved to Glasgow in February to study occupational therapy.
Her handbag was discovered in Dawsholm Park, in the Kelvinside area of the city.
High Craigton Farm, near Milngavie, then became the focus of the inquiry and in the early hours of Thursday police confirmed a body had been found at the farm.
It was later identified as Karen.
On Thursday, a statement written by her dad John, on behalf of his wife and three sons Brendan, Kieran and Damian, said they were “absolutely heartbroken”.
Paying tribute to his youngest child, he added: “Karen was our only daughter, cherished by our family and loved by her friends.
“She was an outgoing girl who travelled the world where she met lots of people and thoroughly enjoyed her life.
“We will miss her terribly.”
A prayer service was held near her home close to Mallow, Co Cork, on Wednesday.
And a fundraising page set up by Miss Buckley’s former classmates to support her family has raised around €70,000. Pacteau appeared at a private hearing in court yesterday and is expected to appear again next week.
A Crown Office spokesman said: “Alexander Pacteau, 21, from Glasgow, appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court today charged with the murder of Karen Buckley and with attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
“He made no plea or declaration and was remanded in custody.”
