Expert says drugs had no influence on Jozef Puska before alleged admissions

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty to murdering Ashling Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on 12 January 2022. The proceedings were reported on 31 October 2023.

The prosecution alleges that Puska admitted the murder while in St James’s Hospital in Dublin. Professor Michael Ryan told the Central Criminal Court that the drugs administered to Puska would have had no influence on his behaviour or ability to communicate.

Ryan said Puska received four 5mg doses of oxycodone on 14 January 2022. He estimated that no more than 8.25mg could have remained in his system after 6pm. He said medical records described Puska as alert and noted no dizziness.

Under cross-examination, Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing BL said gardaí had reported that a machine monitoring Puska went into alarm. Ryan said the medical notes were extensive and that he did not feel it was his responsibility or function to examine garda records.

Ryan said he could not remember reading a note by Detective Garda Fergus Hogan, who said Puska did not recognise him despite having spent considerable time with him earlier that afternoon. Ryan said Puska was probably in a stressful situation after his operation, but he was not an expert on its effects; in his expertise, oxycodone had no possible effect on Puska.

The trial continued before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.