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. 7311Murder · Co. Offaly

Gardaí give evidence of CPR efforts at trial of Jozef Puska for Ashling Murphy murder

Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old schoolteacher, is alleged to have been killed on January 12, 2022, while out for a run along the Grand Canal in Tullamore, Co Offaly. Jozef Puska, a 33-year-old Slovak man of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, has been charged with her murder and has pleaded not guilty. On the fourth day of his trial at the Central Criminal Court, reported on October 20 and 21, 2023, gardaí and paramedics gave evidence of CPR efforts and of no signs of life at the scene. The trial continues on Monday before a jury of nine men and three women.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court20 Oct
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old primary school teacher and traditional Irish musician, was killed while out for a run along the canal in Tullamore.
Where
Ms Murphy's body was found in a ditch at Bolands Lock at Digby Bridge, along the Grand Canal in Tullamore, Co Offaly.
When
  • The murder is alleged to have happened at Cappincur, Tullamore, on January 12, 2022.
  • Gardaí were alerted at around 3.35pm on January 12, while one source gives the paramedics' call as approximately 3.49pm.
Cause
Gardaí saw puncture wounds under Ms Murphy's neck, while another source describes several cuts to her neck.
Other details
Paramedics attended and found Ms Murphy showed no signs of life.
Investigation
  • Detective Garda Tom Dunne performed CPR on Ms Murphy and could not find a pulse, saying any pulse would have been very faint.
  • Gardaí harvested over 25,000 hours of footage and a garda compiled CCTV evidence from Tullamore and Dublin.
  • CCTV shows Mr Puska moving through Tullamore on a bicycle between 12.25pm and 2.05pm.
  • The prosecution's case is that Mr Puska is not picked up on CCTV between 2.05pm and 8.55pm.
  • Items recovered from beside the canal were shown to the jury, including sunglasses, a woolly hat, runners, clothes and a necklace with the name 'Ashling' on it.
Charges
  • Jozef Puska, a 33-year-old Slovak man of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, has been charged with the murder of Ms Murphy.
  • Mr Puska has pleaded not guilty to the murder and has denied it through an interpreter.
In court
  • The trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, with evidence given on its fourth day.
  • The jury has nine men and three women, and the trial continues on Monday.
21 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAshling Murphy was killed while out for a run along the canal in Tullamore. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereAshling Murphy was found along the Grand Canal in Tullamore, Co Offaly. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe body was found in a ditch at Bolands Lock at Digby Bridge. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe murder is alleged to have happened at Cappincur, Tullamore, on January 12th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenGardaí were alerted at around 3:35pm on January 12. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeGardaí saw puncture wounds under her neck. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationItems recovered from the scene were shown to the jury, including sunglasses, a woolly hat, runners and a necklace with the name 'Ashling' on it. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí harvested over 25,000 hours of footage, and a garda compiled CCTV evidence from Tullamore and Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationCCTV shows Mr Puska moving through Tullamore on a bicycle between 12.25pm and 2.05pm. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe prosecution's case is that Mr Puska is not picked up on CCTV between 2.05pm and 8.55pm. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDetective Garda Tom Dunne performed CPR on Ms Murphy and could not find a pulse. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeJozef Puska has denied the murder of Ashling Murphy. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeJozef Puska has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Murphy. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial was on its fourth day. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury has nine men and three women, and the trial continues on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial was on its fourth day when the evidence was given. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA paramedic told the court that Ms Murphy had no signs of life when they attended. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe paramedic noticed a number of wounds in Ms Murphy's neck area. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherParamedics said there were no signs of life. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJozef Puska is 33 and from Lynally Grove, Mucklagh in Co Offaly. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Oct2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Gardai tell Ashling Murphy trial of CPR efforts to revive her

    Reports fourth-day trial evidence from Detective Garda Tom Dunne and Garda Shane Hunter about the scene, the CPR attempt and the blood and wounds found on the victim. Puska has pleaded not guilty.

    victim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyaccused, Jozef Puska, 33, male, namedJozef Puska
  2. 20 Oct2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Jury shown CCTV footage of teacher Ashling Murphy’s last movements during murder trial

    Trial coverage on day four: paramedic evidence, recovered items, CCTV timeline, and Puska's denial of murder. No existing case matches this trial.

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