SCOTTISH police are searching for an Irish student nurse who was last seen outside a Glasgow nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Karen Buckley was last seen by her friends at the Sanctuary nightclub in the Partick area of the city at 1am on April 12 – when she left them to use the toilet but never returned.
The 24-year-old from Co. Cork, a student at Glasgow Caledonian University who shares accommodation with three friends in the Garnethill area, was later seen talking to a man outside the club, in footage caught on CCTV.
Police in Glasgow are keen to speak to the man she spoke to on Dumbarton Road before she walked westwards along the road in the direction of Church Street.
“We are interested in speaking to anyone who may have seen Karen in the early hours of Sunday morning in the west end of Glasgow in order to help with our enquiries to locate her,” Inspector Gavin Smith from Police Scotland’s ‘G’ Division said today.
“We’re particularly keen to get in touch with the gentleman who Karen was seen talking to around 1am on Sunday morning outside the Sanctuary nightclub as he may be able to help us,” he added.
Friends and family are increasingly worried about Karen – who has an Irish accent and is described as between 155 and160cm tall with dark hair and brown eyes.
On the night she disappeared she was wearing long black curly hair extensions.
Karen’s parents were due to fly to Scotland today as concerns for the missing student grew.
“Friends reported Karen missing on Sunday, April 12 after feeling her behaviour to not return home was very out of character,” Insp Smith confirmed.
“Her friends say she would always contact them by text or phone to let them know where was and she doesn’t appear to have contacted anyone.”
He added: “Karen had been drinking alcohol with her friends but they say she was not drunk and are very worried about her.
“Her parents have also flown over from Ireland as they believe this behaviour is very unusual and not like Karen at all.
“I would urge anyone who may have seen Karen at all on Saturday night into Sunday morning to get in touch with police on 101 with any information at all.”
Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
