Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 7229Murder · Co. Offaly · 12 Jan 2022

Ashling Murphy murder trial: no evidence hospital drugs affected Puska's admissions

Ashling Murphy, a woman, was killed on 12 January 2022 at Cappincur, Tullamore, County Offaly, and died from 11 stab wounds to her neck. Jozef Puska, a 33-year-old Slovak man, was admitted to St James's Hospital in Dublin after saying he had been stabbed in Blanchardstown; sources differ on whether that admission was on 13 or 14 January 2022. Around 6pm on 14 January 2022, through an interpreter and after being told he was a person of interest, he made admissions that the Central Criminal Court jury is hearing evidence about. Puska has pleaded not guilty to murder, and on 31 October 2023 a pharmacology witness told the jury there was no evidence that any drug affected those admissions, with the prosecution case due to conclude the next day.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court31 Oct
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Ashling Murphy, a woman, was killed.
  • Jozef Puska, a 33-year-old Slovak man, is the accused.
Where
The killing took place at Cappincur, Tullamore, County Offaly.
When
  • Ashling Murphy was killed on 12 January 2022.
  • Puska said he had been stabbed in the stomach in Blanchardstown on 12 January and was admitted to St James's Hospital; the sources give the admission date as 13 January in the key facts and 14 January in the article.
Cause
Ms Murphy died as a result of 11 stab wounds to her neck.
Investigation
Puska made admissions through an interpreter around 6pm on 14 January 2022, after being told he was a person of interest.
Other details
  • Puska is reported to have said he did it and was the murderer.
  • The only drug still in Puska's system at the time of the admission was oxycodone, at a maximum of 8.25mg, and there was no evidence the admission related to its effects or to any other drug given in hospital.
  • Pharmacology witness Prof Michael Ryan concluded that none of the drugs would have influenced Puska's behaviour at the time of the admissions.
  • Related headlines on the article page refer to a conviction for murder and a later appeal, which the article does not detail.
Charges
Puska has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Murphy.
In court
  • The trial is being heard by a Central Criminal Court jury.
  • As of 31 October 2023 the trial was ongoing, with the prosecution case due to conclude the next day.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe killing took place at Cappincur, Tullamore. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenAshling Murphy was killed on 12 January 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenPuska was admitted to St James's Hospital on 13 January 2022, after saying he had been stabbed in the stomach in Blanchardstown the previous day. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeMs Murphy died as a result of 11 stab wounds to her neck. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationPuska made admissions through an interpreter around 6pm on 14 January 2022, after being told he was a person of interest. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtPuska has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Murphy. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is being heard by a Central Criminal Court jury. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPuska is reported to have said he did it and was the murderer. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe only drug still in Puska's system at the time of the admission was Oxycodone, and there was no evidence the admission related to its effects. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe pharmacology witness concluded there would have been no influence of any of the drugs on Puska's behaviour at the time of the admissions. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 Oct2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Ashling Murphy murder trial: No evidence that admission by accused was related to the effects of any drug, jury told

    Reports pharmacology evidence from Prof Michael Ryan that drugs given to Puska in hospital would not have affected his admissions made around 6pm on 14 January 2022. Trial is ongoing and the prosecution case is due to conclude the next day.

    victim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyaccused, Jozef Puska, 33, male, Slovak, named, non-irishJozef Puska