Search continues for Irish student missing in Glasgow

Scottish police are searching for an Irish student who disappeared after telling friends she was going to the toilet in a nightclub.

Karen Buckley (24) from Cork, and her friends arrived at Sanctuary nightclub in Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, at around 11.45pm on Saturday.

At around 1am she told friends she was going to the toilet but did not return and did not take her jacket.

She was then seen on CCTV outside talking to a man and then walking westwards along Dumbarton Road away from the city centre, in the opposite direction from the accommodation she shares with three friends on Hill Street, about a mile and a half away in the Garnethill area of Glasgow.

Friends of the Glasgow Caledonian University student raised the alarm yesterday, saying it was "very out of character" for her not to return home. Her parents have flown over from Ireland as they also believe her behaviour is unusual.

Police are keen to speak to the man Ms Buckley spoke with outside Sanctuary. He is described as being of stocky build with a white shirt and dark trousers.

Inspector Gavin Smith said, "Friends reported Karen missing on Sunday April 12th after feeling her behaviour to not return home was very out of character. Her friends say she would always contact them by text or phone to let them know where she was and she doesn't appear to have contacted anyone.

“We are interested in speaking to anyone who may have seen Karen in the early hours of Sunday morning in the west end of Glasgow in order to help with our inquiries to locate her. We’re particularly keen to get in touch with the gentleman who Karen was seen talking to around 1am on Sunday morning outside the Sanctuary nightclub as he may be able to help us.

“Karen had been drinking alcohol with her friends but they say she was not drunk and are very worried about her. Her parents have also flown over from Ireland as they believe this behaviour is very unusual and not like Karen at all.

“I would urge anyone who may have seen Karen at all on Saturday night into Sunday morning to get in touch with police with any information at all.”

The West End, Glasgow’s most fashionable neighbourhood, is a mainly residential area but does include a number of popular bars, restaurants and clubs.

Sanctuary, near the landmark Kelvingrove museum and the Western Infirmary hospital, is often frequented by a youthful crowd, with footballers among the clientele. The nightclub was apparently celebrating its second birthday at the weekend and was much busier than usual on Saturday night.

Ms Buckley is described as white, around 152cm to 157.5cm (5ft to 5ft 2in) with dark hair and brown eyes and had long black curly hair with extensions.

When last seen she was wearing an all in one black jump suit with red high heels and a black handbag. She speaks in an Irish accent.

She lives with three other student friends in a flat in Hill Street, Garnethill, Glasgow, and earlier on Saturday evening had drinks with friends in the flat before going to the nightclub.

Yesterday police began a search of the area where Ms Buckley was last seen, including a park, bushes and a small area around the River Kelvin. The search is expected to broaden out in the coming days.

A Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/HelpFindKaren, page has been set up in an effort to find the missing student.