Courts / Offaly / Report

Trial date set for Ashling Murphy murder accused

Summary

A 31‑year‑old man, Jozef Puska of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, is charged with the murder of 23‑year‑old primary school teacher Ashling Murphy, who was fatally assaulted while jogging along the Grand Canal in Tullamore on 12 January 2022. Puska is accused of murdering Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore. His defence counsel, Rebecca Smith BL, informed Judge Paul McDermott that Puska will appear by video‑link and that a Slovakian interpreter is required for all court dates. The judge set 6 June 2023 as the trial date before a jury at the Central Criminal Court, with the case expected to last three to four weeks and all disclosure to be made within four months of that date. Puska was remanded in custody after a brief hearing and was sent forward for trial on 6 April after being served with the book of evidence. Free legal aid was granted for the trial.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Trial date set for Ashling Murphy murder accused. Charges or matters: murdering the 23-year-old primary school teacher at Cappincur, Tullamore on the afternoon of January 12, 2022. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• January 12, 2022 Incident
• June 6, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
• April 6 Adjournment
• 2022-04-25 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Related court reports

• 'I'm going to kill you' - Carjacker held knife to elderly woman's throat
• Pharmacist dismissed within weeks of disclosing pregnancy wins €50k
• Ashling Murderer loses bid to have life sentence backdated
• Balaclava attacker claims car search breached his rights
• Scope of Jozef Puska's conviction appeal may change, lawyers tell court
• Not an 'iota' of support for shooting victim's recognition evidence, defence tell jury

Read the original CNI report