POLICE in Scotland have confirmed that the body found on a farm near Glasgow yesterday is that of missing Cork student Karen Buckley.
The 24-year-old's body was found on a farm north of Glasgow yesterday evening and the Buckley family was informed.
The formal identification process took place today.
In a statement, the student’s devastated father John Buckley said: “Marian and I together, with our sons Brendan, Kieran and Damien, are absolutely heartbroken. Karen was our only daughter, cherished by her 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.
"We would be very, very grateful if we could now be left alone to grieve with our family and friends.”
The Irish Consulate General in Scotland has been providing the family with assistance - while Ms Buckley's University of Limerick classmates have raised £45,000 to help the family with financial costs.
Detective Superintendent Jim Kerr, from Police Scotland's major investigations team, confirmed that a 21-year-old man detained in connection with the the Irish woman's death is expected to appear before a court in Glasgow tomorrow.
Karen Buckley had moved to Glasgow to study for a masters degree in occupational therapy – having previously worked as a nurse in Princess Alexandra Hospital in Essex.
She had been on a night out with her housemates in Glasgow when she disappeared.
She was last seen on CCTV speaking to a man outside Sanctuary nightclub in the city’s west end.
On Tuesday, a handbag was discovered in Dawsholm Park, believed to be that of Ms Buckley.
Yesterday evening Glasgow police moved the focus of the search to High Craigton farm outside of Glasgow, following a “definite line of enquiry” – where her body was discovered.
In a press conference this afternoon, Detective Superintendent Kerr thanked the media and the public for their assistance in carrying out the search.
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