Family's Tributes For Karen As Funeral Held

Mourners at the funeral of student nurse Karen Buckley have been told her killing "violates our sense of order".

The body of the 24-year-old from Mourneabbey, County Cork, was found two weeks ago on a farm outside Glasgow, four days after she vanished during a night out with friends.

Her parents, John and Marian, brought their daughter's coffin home from Scotland on Sunday before placing it in the tiny parish of Analeentha.

Detective Chief Superintendent Jim Kerr, who is heading the Police Scotland investigation, was among those who gathered for the funeral.

Dozens of student nurses, each of them clutching a single red rose, formed a guard of honour in tribute to their friend and colleague.

Father Joseph O'Keefe, the parish priest, told mourners: "Karen's death seems so utterly inappropriate. It violates our sense of order.

"In our view of life, death and childhood are poles apart, and 24 years simply does not seem the right time to die. It does not seem to add up.

"Nothing becomes so indispensable as a child. From the outset, they tangle their tiny fingers in our heart strings and when they are pulled away, the hurt is indescribable.

"Within the scope of human reason, a tragedy such as this doesn't make sense. Therefore, we either despair or find our strength in faith."

Before mass, Ms Buckley's brothers brought gifts to the altar in the Church of St Michael the Archangel, representing her personality, achievements and love of life.

Brendan presented a photograph taken on his sister's first day at Analeentha National School, Kieran presented her nurse's uniform and Damien presented her favourite dress.

Her cousins read the Lessons, cousins and friends led the Prayers of the Faithful and another cousin, Siobhan Leahy, read a poem entitled: Karen.

Soloist Carmel Breen and the combined parish choir sang the Irish blessing May The Road Rise To Meet You as the coffin was carried out.

Remote villages came to a standstill as the funeral cortege made its way to neighbouring Burnfoot, where Ms Buckley was laid to rest in the cemetery.

Alexander Pacteau, 21, who is charged with murder and with attempting to defeat the ends of justice, has been remanded in custody.