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. 8828Murder · Co. Offaly · 12 Jan 2022

Jozef Puska abandons appeal against conviction for Ashling Murphy murder

Ashling Murphy was stabbed repeatedly in the neck on 12 January 2022 while exercising along the canal towpath outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. Jozef Puska, a 35-year-old man, pleaded not guilty to her murder, and a jury later found him guilty. The trial judge backdated his life sentence only to the verdict in November 2023. On 10 July 2026 his senior counsel told the Court of Appeal that Puska had completed a notice abandoning his appeal against conviction. The matter is listed for mention on Thursday 16 July before a three-judge panel to decide whether the sentence should be backdated to when he first went into custody.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Jozef Puska was convicted of murdering Ashling Murphy.
Where
Ashling Murphy was exercising along the canal towpath outside Tullamore, Co Offaly.
When
The murder took place on 12 January 2022.
Cause
Ashling Murphy was stabbed repeatedly in the neck, and the jury found that Puska stabbed her 11 times in the neck.
Charges
Puska pleaded not guilty to murdering Ashling Murphy.
Other details
Jozef Puska is listed as 35 years old.
In court
  • A jury returned its verdict in November 2023.
  • On 10 July 2026 Puska's senior counsel told the Court of Appeal that a notice abandoning the conviction appeal had been completed that morning.
  • The matter is listed for mention on Thursday 16 July before a three-judge panel, and counsel asked for it to deal with whether the sentence should be backdated to when Puska first went into custody.
Sentence
  • Puska is serving a life sentence for the murder.
  • The trial judge backdated the sentence only to when the verdict was returned in November 2023.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatJozef Puska has abandoned his appeal against his conviction for the murder of Ashling Murphy. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereAshling Murphy was exercising along the canal towpath outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe murder took place on 12 January 2022. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeAshling Murphy was stabbed repeatedly in the neck. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe jury found that Puska stabbed Ms Murphy 11 times in the neck. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtPuska's senior counsel told the Court of Appeal that a notice of abandonment had been completed that morning. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe matter was to be left in for Thursday 16 July before a three-judge panel. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtCounsel asked for the case to be left in for mention to deal with whether the sentence should have been backdated to when Puska first went into custody. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentencePuska is serving a life sentence for the murder. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe trial judge backdated the sentence only to when the verdict was returned in November 2023. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherPuska had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ashling Murphy. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Jul2026
    Otherthejournal.ie, first report
    Jozef Puska abandons bid to appeal conviction for murder of Ashling Murphy

    Reports that Puska has abandoned his conviction appeal at the Court of Appeal on 10 July 2026, and that the matter will be listed for mention on Thursday 16 July before a three-judge panel to deal with the backdating of his life sentence.

    victim, Ashling Murphy, 23, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyconvicted, Jozef Puska, 35, namedJozef Puska