THE father of murdered Irish student Karen Buckley collected her posthumous Masters degree from Glasgow Caledonian University at a ceremony yesterday.
Ms Buckley, originally from Co Cork, was studying Occupational Therapy at the time of her death, aged 24.
A spokeswoman from the University told The Irish Post Ms Buckley's family have asked to celebrate her achievements privately.
"On Tuesday November 22, during GCU’s winter graduation ceremonies, Karen Buckley was awarded a posthumous Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.
"Her family have asked that her achievements can be celebrated privately."
Marian and John Buckley at court as their daughter's killer entered his plea. John Buckley accepted Karen's degree posthumously from Glasgow Caledonian University yesterday. (Picture: PA)Other attendees at the ceremony tweeted the moment Ms Buckley's degree was collected by her father.
At my mums graduation and Karen Buckleys dad just accepted her certificate, absolutely heartbreaking, RIP ❤️
— ET (@_emmathorpe_) November 22, 2016
The pair met outside the club and within minutes Pacteau, 22, murdered her in his car.
The details of the crime emerged in court – he strangled her and beat her with a spanner up to 13 times before dousing her body in household chemicals in an attempt to cover up his crime.
“In a matter of minutes, for some unknown, inexplicable reason, you destroyed her life,” Judge Lady Rae said when handing down the sentence at Glasgow High Court in September.
Pacteau was sentenced to life imprisonment on September 8, 2015, for her murder and for defeating the ends of justice.
Pacteau pleaded guilty and will serve a minimum sentence of 23 years before he is eligible for parole.
Just two weeks after his sentencing, he lodged an appeal to shorten his sentence – but later withdrew the appeal in December 2015.
In a statement after his sentencing, Ms Buckley’s father John described his daughter’s murderer as “truly evil".
A University of Limerick nursing graduate, Ms Buckley moved to Essex after graduation where she worked in the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
In January 2015, she began a postgraduate course in occupational therapy in Glasgow Caledonian University to specialise.
