People in Karen Buckley’s home area of north Co Cork have expressed relief that her murderer pleaded guilty and spared the family the ordeal of a trial.
Cllr Dan Joe Fitzgerald of Mallow said the guilty plea had to be the source of “great relief” to the Buckley family.
“It was an awful ordeal for them. I was listening to the news and I was relieved to hear of the guilty plea. It is a consolation. A very sad consolation but a consolation nevertheless. They are quiet, family-orientated people. My heart goes out to people like them. I am glad they won’t have the ordeal of a trial.”
His Fianna Fáil party colleague, Cllr Bernard Moynihan, said the death of Ms Buckley in such tragic circumstances “numbed” the people of the area earlier this year.
‘Appalling tragedy’
“It was so shocking. People were numb. It was a nightmare for them. He pleaded guilty, so at least he has spared them the hassle of a trial. It is an appalling tragedy. These are farming people – solid, decent people. It must be a relief to them not to have a trial.”
A local man in Ms Buckley’s home village of Mourneabbey, who did not wish to be named, said there was a relief about the plea.
“People are relieved but I would prefer not to say any more than that. It was so upsetting at the time and we will let the family say what they have to say and leave it at that.”
A small number of local people offered prayers at the Church of St Michael the Archangel at Analeentha in Mourneabbey.
It is the church where Ms Buckley made her Holy Communion and Confirmation. Her requiem Mass was held at the church earlier this year.
Ms Buckley was a committed GAA fan and played as a teenager with Mourneabbey Ladies Football Club.
Following her death two books of condolences were set up at Cork County Council headquarters in Mallow and at the Hibernian Hotel in the town, where she worked as a teenager.