Case No. 1378Perjury (withholding information from gardaí), witness interference (burning bloodstained clothes) · Co. Offaly · 12 Jan 2022
Brothers of Ashling Murphy killer Jozef Puska accept convictions, sentencing set for October
Lubomir Puska Jnr, Marek Puska, and their wives Viera Gaziova and Jozefina Grundzova, convicted in June 2025 of withholding information and burning bloodstained clothes in the murder of Ashling Murphy, accepted the jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court on 7 July 2025 and will not appeal. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs adjourned sentencing to 7 October 2025.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted7 Jul
2 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports34 statements extracted from the articles
- whatHe killed her by repeatedly stabbing her in the neck. (irishtimes.com)
- whatLubomir jnr and Marek misled gardaí by failing to disclose crucial information in witness statements. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatLubomir jnr admitted to gardaí that he lied in his initial statement. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatViera and Jozefina told investigators they had burned clothes. (irishtimes.com)
- whatJozef Puska returned home on the night of the murder with visible injuries. (irishtimes.com)
- whatJozef admitted to killing or seriously injuring a woman with a knife. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatJozef subsequently travelled to Dublin after the murder. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatLucia Istokova admitted to withholding information from gardaí investigating the murder. (irishtimes.com)
- whatJozef Puska murdered Ashling Murphy by repeatedly stabbing her in the neck. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTheir wives burned Jozef's bloodstained clothes to impede his arrest or prosecution. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe brothers withheld information that Jozef returned home on the night of the murder with visible injuries. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereShe was attacked while exercising along the canal towpath outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. (irishtimes.com)
- whereAll four family members were living with Jozef, his wife Lucia, and 14 children at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe murder occurred while Ashling Murphy exercised along the canal towpath outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenJozef Puska murdered Ashling Murphy on 12 January 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe relatives' offences occurred in January 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder took place on 12 January 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeLucia Istokova, Jozef Puska's wife, pleaded guilty to withholding information before the trial commenced. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe four relatives will not appeal their convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSentencing was fixed for 7 October 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe four family members were found guilty on 17 June 2025. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtAll defendants pleaded not guilty during the four-week trial. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtLucia Istokova pleaded guilty before the commencement of the trial. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe defendants appeared before the Central Criminal Court on 7 July 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMs Justice Caroline Biggs fixed a sentencing date of 7 October 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJozef Puska is serving a life sentence for the murder. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJozef Puska was convicted of murder and is serving a life sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMarek Puska has engaged with the Probation Services. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLubomir jnr is due to meet with the Probation Services on 9 July. (irishtimes.com)
- otherViera and Jozefina told gardaí that they had burned clothes. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMarek Puska has engaged with Probation Services with further meetings scheduled. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherLubomir Jnr is due to meet with Probation Services on 9 July. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA social worker is involved in Gaziova's case under the auspices of another agency. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGrundzova has met with Probation Services. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Jul2025Brothers of Ashling Murphy murderer Jozef Puska 'accept jury verdict'
Reports that the convicted family members accept the jury verdict and will not appeal; sentencing adjourned to 7 October 2025 by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs; details of probation and social work involvement for each defendant.
victim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyconvicted, Jozef Puska, 35, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jozef Puskaconvicted, Lubomir Puska Jnr, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lubomir Puska Jnrconvicted, Marek Puska, 36, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Marek Puskaconvicted, Viera Gaziova, 40, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Viera Gaziovaconvicted, Jozefina Grundzova, 32, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jozefina Grundzovaconvicted, Lucia Istokova, 36, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova - 7 Jul2025Jozef Puska’s relatives now accept jury verdict and will not appeal conviction, court hears
All four defendants accept the jury verdict and will not appeal; sentencing adjourned to 7 October 2025. Lucia Istokova, Jozef Puska's wife, also pleaded guilty before the trial commenced.
victim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyconvicted, Jozef Puska, 35, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jozef Puskaconvicted, Lubomir Puska jnr, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lubomir Puska jnrconvicted, Marek Puska, 36, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Marek Puskaconvicted, Viera Gaziova, 40, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Viera Gaziovaconvicted, Jozefina Grundzova, 32, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jozefina Grundzovaconvicted, Lucia Istokova, 36, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova