The family of murdered student Karen Buckley is still struggling to come to terms with her death, but are “coping as best they can”, according to their parish priest.

Father Joe O’Keefe spoke out as a service was held in Glasgow, one year after the 24-year-old was murdered after meeting her killer Alexander Pacteau outside a nightclub.

Mr O’Keefe, who has been supporting her parents John and Marian at their home in County Cork since the killing, is to hold a special mass in her memory in her home town of Mourneabbey on Friday.

He said: “The family are coping as best they can.

READ MORE: Karen Buckley one year on: Timeline of murder that shocked Glasgow

“It will obviously take a long time for them to come to terms with what happened to Karen.”

He revealed that they have been overjoyed after they became grandparents for the first time when one of Karen’s three brothers became a father to a baby boy.

Glasgow Times:

Mr O’Keefe, speaking ahead of the service at St Michael the Archangel church in Analeentha, said the baby “has brought a new joy” into the Buckley family’s lives. Yesterday, a private memorial service for the friends, classmates and teachers of Ms Buckley was held at Glasgow Caledonian University, where she had been studying.

On April 12 last year, Pacteau attacked her with a spanner in his car after she disappeared from the Sanctuary nightclub, where she had been on a night out with friends in the west end.

Her remains were found four days later at a farm near Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire.

READ MORE: Karen Buckley one year on: Timeline of murder that shocked Glasgow

Pacteau had moved her body into his Glasgow flat and purchased cleaning materials and chemicals, which he used to try to dispose of her body.

The former privately educated schoolboy was jailed for life at the High Court in September. He was told by the judge in the case he must serve a minimum of 23 years.

The small, personal service was held at the university late yesterday afternoon.

It was organised by The School of Health and Life Sciences which is the faculty Ms Buckley belonged to as a student when she was studying occupational therapy.

A spokeswoman for the university confirmed it would be a private service for the students affected by her death.

Vincent McKay, Dean of the School of Health and Life Sciences, said it was a time for personal reflection for those who knew her.

Glasgow Times:

He said: “The School of Health and Life Sciences has invited Karen’s friends, classmates and staff to a small remembrance service on Tuesday afternoon, which will be led by a University Chaplain.

“This offers students and staff the opportunity to come together for a time of quiet, personal reflection, to remember both Karen and her family at this time.”

Ms Buckley, who was a qualified nurse, had come to Glasgow to further her career.

She originally graduated from the University of Limerick before moving to Essex to work as a nurse.

READ MORE: Karen Buckley one year on: Timeline of murder that shocked Glasgow

She came to Scotland because she wanted to “specialise” and get a masters degree at the city centre based GCU.

Following her disappearance last year, the university offered support and counselling to students.

Many of the university’s students also attended a vigil with Ms Buckley’s parents in George Square, Glasgow, shortly after Ms Buckley’s body was discovered. After the trial, Mr Buckley thanked the people of Scotland for their support and said he hoped Pacteau would be haunted by his crime.