Ireland Jozef Puska abandons appeal bid over Ashling Murphy murder
Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old schoolteacher, was attacked and stabbed to death on 12 January 2022 while exercising on the canal towpath outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty and was convicted of her murder, with the jury finding he stabbed her 11 times in the neck and the verdict returned in November 2023. The trial judge imposed a life sentence and backdated it only to the date of the verdict. Puska's appeal against conviction, originally due on 23 April, was abandoned on 10 July 2026, and a hearing on backdating his sentence was listed for 16 July.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court10 Jul
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced10 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old schoolteacher, was attacked and stabbed to death.
- Where
- The attack happened on the canal towpath outside Tullamore, Co Offaly, while Ms Murphy was exercising.
- When
- The murder took place on 12 January 2022.
- Weapon
- A knife was used, and Ms Murphy was stabbed repeatedly in the neck.
- Cause
- Jozef Puska stabbed Ms Murphy repeatedly in the neck.
- Other details
- The jury found that Puska stabbed Ms Murphy 11 times in the neck.
- An interpreter was provided at the hearing.
- Investigation
- Puska's DNA and fingerprint were found on his bicycle at the scene.
- Charges
- Puska pleaded not guilty to murder and was convicted by a jury, with the verdict returned in November 2023.
- Sentence
- Puska is serving a life sentence, and the trial judge backdated it only to the date the verdict was returned.
- In court
- Puska's appeal against conviction was originally due to be heard on 23 April, but the date was vacated after his barristers withdrew.
- On 10 July 2026, Puska's lawyers told the Court of Appeal, before Judge Isobel Kennedy, that he had abandoned his conviction appeal, which the judge confirmed. Offaly Express reported the same abandonment at the Central Criminal Court.
- A hearing on backdating Puska's life sentence was listed for Thursday, 16 July, before a three-judge panel.
- The DPP said it was in a position to proceed if Puska again discharged his legal team, and Puska has been granted legal aid for his appeal.
30 statements extracted from the articles
- whatJozef Puska abandoned his bid to overturn his conviction for Ashling Murphy's murder. (rte.ie)
- whatAshling Murphy was attacked and stabbed to death. (rte.ie)
- whatJozef Puska has abandoned his appeal against his conviction for the murder of Ashling Murphy. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatJozef Puska abandoned his appeal against his conviction for the murder of Ashling Murphy. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereMurphy was attacked while walking along a canal outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. (rte.ie)
- whereThe attack happened on the canal towpath outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereAshling Murphy was exercising along the canal towpath outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe murder took place on 12 January 2022. (rte.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenMs Murphy was attacked on January 12, 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
- causePuska stabbed Ashling Murphy repeatedly in the neck. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- weaponMs Murphy was stabbed repeatedly in the neck. (offalyexpress.ie)
- weaponThe attack was a knife attack. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationPuska's DNA and fingerprint were found on his bicycle at the scene. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtPuska's lawyers told the Court of Appeal that he had abandoned his conviction appeal. (rte.ie)
- courtThe conviction appeal was originally due to be heard on 23 April but the date was vacated. (rte.ie)
- courtThe DPP said it was in a position to proceed if Puska again discharged his legal team. (rte.ie)
- courtPuska's counsel asked for a hearing on the backdating of his life sentence, and the judge agreed it could be heard on 16 July. (rte.ie)
- courtSenior counsel told the Court of Appeal that Puska had completed a notice of abandonment of his conviction appeal. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge said the appeal would be taken as abandoned. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe matter was left in for Thursday, July 16, before a three-judge panel. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtPuska has been granted legal aid for his appeal. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal took the notice of abandonment of the appeal. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtCounsel asked that the case be left in for mention to deal with matters related to the life sentence. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtJozef Puska has abandoned an appeal bid over the Ashling Murphy murder. (extra.ie)
- sentencePuska is serving a life sentence for the murder. (rte.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentencePuska is serving a life sentence for the murder of Ms Murphy. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe trial judge backdated the sentence only to when the verdict was returned in November 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe trial judge backdated the sentence only to the date the verdict was returned in November 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherA Slovakian interpreter was provided at the hearing. (rte.ie)
- otherThe jury found that Puska stabbed Ms Murphy 11 times in the neck. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 10 Jul2026Jozef Puska abandons appeal bid over Ashling Murphy murder
Reports that Jozef Puska abandoned his appeal over the Ashling Murphy murder. The article text is template code with no body, so the headline is the only source for this report.
convicted, Jozef Puska, namedJozef Puskavictim, Ashling Murphy, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphy - 10 Jul2026Ashling Murphy's murderer drops appeal against conviction
Reports that Puska abandoned his conviction appeal at the Court of Appeal on 10 July 2026, that a life sentence is being served, and that the question of backdating the sentence was adjourned for mention.
convicted, Jozef Puska, 35, male, namedJozef Puskavictim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphy - 10 Jul2026Jozef Puska abandons appeal against conviction for murder of Ashling Murphy
Reports that Puska abandoned his conviction appeal at the Central Criminal Court on 10 July 2026, and that the matter was listed for 16 July 2026 before a three-judge panel to deal with whether his sentence should be backdated.
convicted, Jozef Puska, 35, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jozef Puskavictim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphy - 10 Jul2026Puska abandons bid to appeal conviction for Murphy murder
Puska's conviction appeal has been abandoned in the Court of Appeal. A limited hearing on backdating his life sentence to include time in custody before conviction was set for 16 July.
convicted, Jozef Puska, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jozef Puskavictim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphy