Community shocked and saddened by gruesome find

Police cordoned off High Craigton Farm near Milngavie and a section of Windyhill Golf Club in Bearsden on Wednesday, as they investigated the disappearance of Irish student Karen Buckley.

It’s now been confirmed that human remains have been found on the farm.

Karen’s family have been notified and a formal ID is set to take place.

The man was arrested after being detained for questioning on Wednesday. He is expected to appear in private at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Friday.

Local residents ahve been shocked by the discovery.

Albert Paris, from Tambowie Cottages, which are about half-a-mile away from High Craigton Farm off the A809 road to Drymen, said: “I’m quite shocked by it all really.

“We saw the police helicopters circling in the air on Wednesday morning and wondered what had happened.

“I don’t know why someone would choose to hide a body in that place as it’s a dead end road.

“You just don’t expect something like this on your doorstep.”

Pearl McKechnie, also from Tambowie Cottages, said: “I can’t believe this has happened so close to my house.

“It’s a real worry when something so awful happens.”

Harry Campbell from the Precinct Cafe in Baljaffray, Bearsden, said; “Most local people have been talking about this since Karen went missing last Sunday.

“Everyone is very shocked and sad for her parents and family. It’s really very tragic.”

John Parkinson, from South Baljaffray in Bearsden, said he was surprised when the police sealed off an area which is only about 200 metres from his home,

He added: “It’s unbelieveable.

“It’s so sad that the girl came over here to study and it’s ended in such a tragic way for her.”

Karen (24), from Cork in Ireland, was last seen walking away from a nightclub in Glasgow’s West End just after 1am on Sunday after talking to a man outside.

The Glasgow Caledonian University student had been at Sanctuary nightclub on Dumbarton Road in Partick.

At about 1am she told friends she was going to the toilet but she didn’t come back and didn’t pick up her jacket.

CCTV cameras captured images of her talking to a man outside the club, then she left and walked towards Church Street.

Police mounted a full scale search operation centred around a flat in Dorchester Avenue, in the west of Glasgow, and Dawsholm Park where Karen’s handbag was found.

The search operation then moved to Milngavie and Bearsden.

Miss Buckley moved to Glasgow earlier this year and was a studying occupational therapy at Glasgow Caledonian University.