Tayside Police have confirmed that a body found in Dundee on Wednesday is that of missing mother Mary McLaren.
Her mother, Margaret McIntosh, and other family members have paid emotional tributes to her. Ms McIntosh said: "Mary, I miss you so much and with all my heart and I hope justice comes real soon my darling. Sleep tight. Good night my precious one. Rest in peace my baby." She also thanked the public and CID for their help in the search.
34-year-old Mary was last seen leaving a nightclub in the city centre two weeks ago. Her body was discovered near a roundabout on the city's Marketgait on Wednesday.
A post mortem examination is underway to establish cause of Mary's death. A forensic examination of the area in which she was found is continuing and police say they are treating the death as suspicious. Mary's body was removed from undergrowth at an embankment in the Marketgait area of Dundee late on Thursday.
IN DETAIL
- Devastated family pay tribute to Dundee mother
- "Why did it take so long to find Mary?"
- Gallery of missing woman Mary McLaren
Mary's sister Michelle Rodger praised Mary's kind spirit.
"She was a very nice person. She would speak to anyone, help anyone. She was my best friend really", she said.
Mary's other sister, Lisa Hendry, also thanked the public and police for their help in the case.
"We just want to thank Tayside Police all the public and friends gathered around. Mary's a big part of our lives – our sister and our friend and she'll be sadly missed", she said.
"Me and Mary were called the 'cheeky girls' when we were out. It's just her smiles. She used to make us all smile and laugh," Michelle added, saying: "If you were down, she'd make you happy. It was wonderful. Every time I go down to her house I expect her to be there."
'I didn't want to say goodbye'
Lisa revealed it was a wrench for the family to visit the scene where the body was found. She said: "I didn't really want to say goodbye to a sister I love. It's just so hard. I want her in my arms to hold her and tell her she's safe."
In a statement released by police following Mary's identification, her husband Scott said that the family had been left devastated and heartbroken.
He said: "Mary and I met when we were in our early teens at Kingspark School. I still can’t believe that she has gone. It's heartbreaking. The worst part was not knowing where she was, and wondering why she had never contacted anyone in the family. It was just so out of character.
"She just loved life and spending time with her family whether it was shopping with her sisters, playing bingo, going out dancing or just socialising.
"Family meant a great deal to Mary and every year we would all go on holiday together to either Berwick on Tweed, Seaton Sands or Blackpool. She just doted on us all and she was looking forward to becoming a Granny. It's extremely sad that she will never get the chance to enjoy that time in her life.
"Mary was deservedly spoiled by us all. She was such a kind, funny, popular, friendly person and always put her family first. Words cannot describe how much we are already missing her.
"The last few weeks have been extremely difficult and upsetting for the whole family and I would like to thank everyone for their messages of support and kindness. "I would particularly like to thank anyone who came forward with information to help Tayside Police find Mary. I cannot thank you enough."
BACKGROUND
- Family of missing woman plead for her safe return
- Police urge clubbers to send missing woman pictures
