An unspeakable tragedy unfolds - Karen Buckley’s death

IT is beyond the imagination of most people what the parents and brothers of Cork student Karen Buckley are suffering.

Fri, 17 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Having loved, reared, and nurtured her from childhood to adulthood, having watched her progress in her chosen career of nursing, it is unthinkable that Marian and John Buckley should have to face the reality that their child is dead.

It does not matter that Karen was 24, on the cusp of her career, well-travelled, well-liked, and happy, studying at university in Glasgow since February and already making lots of new friends in the city and at Caledonia University.

On the night she disappeared, Karen had been out until the early hours with college friends, doing what young people the world over do. She did absolutely nothing wrong.

From the moment they are born, all parents want for their children is to be happy, healthy, and safe. The truth is, though, that they can never ensure any of those things no matter how hard they try.

Children can be given all the love in the world, all the nurture, advice, and support possible, yet that may not protect them from terrible things happening, either by accident or design.

There was nothing John and Marian Buckley could have done to prevent what happened to their beloved and only daughter.

That is the greatest tragedy of all.