Wednesday 28 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. 7190Murder · Co. Offaly · 12 Jan 2022

Jozef Puska denies stabbing Ashling Murphy 11 times at murder trial

Jozef Puska, a 33-year-old Slovak man, is on trial for the murder of Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old school teacher, who died at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on 12 January 2022. Gardaí detained Puska at Tullamore Garda station on 18 and 19 January 2022, and said his DNA was found under Ms Murphy's fingernails. He has pleaded not guilty, and on 2 and 3 November 2023 he gave evidence in his own defence, claiming a man stabbed him and then attacked Ms Murphy. As of 3 November 2023, on the 14th day of the trial, the evidence was due to conclude after one more witness on Monday, and related headlines refer to an appeal against a murder conviction, though the articles give no verdict.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court2 Nov
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Jozef Puska, a 33-year-old Slovak man, is on trial for the murder of school teacher Ashling Murphy, aged 23.
Where
  • Ms Murphy was killed at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, while Puska said he was stabbed on the Grand Canal in Tullamore.
  • Puska said he was attacked while cycling between Digby Bridge and the N52 flyover.
When
Ms Murphy was killed on the afternoon of 12 January 2022.
Cause
  • Ms Murphy died from 11 stab wounds to her neck.
  • The prosecution suggested Puska stabbed her 11 times and sliced her neck with a 12th wound, which he denied.
Weapon
Puska said a man wearing a face mask pulled a knife on him and stabbed him, with reports giving the stabbing as twice in the stomach or as multiple times.
Investigation
  • Gardaí detained Puska at Tullamore Garda station on 18 and 19 January 2022.
  • Gardaí said Puska's DNA was found under Ms Murphy's fingernails, and Puska declined to account for it and told gardaí he did not know her.
  • An email sent to the Garda press office on 17 January 2022 claimed responsibility for the murder, and gardaí were satisfied its sender had nothing to do with the events in Tullamore.
  • Puska agreed he had lied to gardaí on several occasions, including about an alleged stabbing in Blanchardstown, and said he had asked someone to burn the clothes he wore that day.
Charges
Puska has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Murphy.
In court
  • Puska began giving evidence on Thursday 2 November 2023, and under cross-examination on 3 November he denied stabbing Ms Murphy 11 times and sliced her neck with a 12th wound.
  • The trial is before a jury of nine men and three women, on its 14th day, and will resume on Monday with one more witness before the evidence concludes.
Other details
  • Puska agreed he knew Ms Murphy was dying when he was beside her in a ditch on the Grand Canal, and said he did not harm her.
  • Related headlines refer to an appeal against a murder conviction for Ms Murphy's killing, which Puska abandoned, but the articles give no details of the verdict or sentence.
32 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatJozef Puska is on trial for the murder of school teacher Ashling Murphy. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereAshling Murphy was murdered at Cappincur, Tullamore. (irishtimes.com)
  • wherePuska said he was stabbed on the Grand Canal in Tullamore. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereAshling Murphy was killed at Cappincur, Tullamore. (irishtimes.com)
  • wherePuska said he was attacked while cycling between Digby Bridge and the N52 flyover. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenAshling Murphy was murdered on 12 January 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenMs Murphy was attacked on the afternoon of 12 January 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe killing happened on January 12th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeAshling Murphy died as a result of 11 stab wounds to her neck. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe prosecution suggested Puska stabbed Ms Murphy 11 times and sliced her neck with a 12th wound, which he denied. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponPuska said the attacker pulled a knife on him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí detained Jozef Puska at Tullamore Garda station on 18 and 19 January 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí said Puska was forensically linked to the scene through his DNA under Ashling Murphy's fingernails. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationPuska told gardaí he did not know Ashling Murphy and had no contact with her. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationPuska declined to comment when asked to account for his DNA under Ashling Murphy's fingernails. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí were satisfied that the man who sent the email had nothing to do with the events in Tullamore. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeJozef Puska has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ashling Murphy. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJozef Puska gave evidence to the jury at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJozef Puska said he was not following the woman, though he was behind her. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial continues on Friday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJozef Puska is on the 14th day of his murder trial. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial is before a jury of nine men and three women. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial will resume on Monday, with one more witness before the evidence concludes. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAn email sent to the Garda press office on 17 January 2022 claimed responsibility for Ashling Murphy's murder. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPuska denies murdering Ashling Murphy. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPuska told the court he was stabbed by a man who then attacked Ashling Murphy. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherUnder cross-examination Puska said he had lied to gardaí on a number of occasions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPuska said he had asked someone to burn the clothes he was wearing that day. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPuska told the court he did not harm Ashling Murphy. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPuska agreed he knew Ms Murphy was dying when he was beside her in a ditch on the Grand Canal. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPuska told the court he was stabbed twice in the stomach by a man wearing a face mask. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPuska agreed he had lied about some matters in the murder investigation, including an alleged stabbing in Blanchardstown. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Nov2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Murder accused denies prosecution claim he stabbed Ashling Murphy 11 times

    Covers the accused's cross-examination and the defence evidence in the ongoing murder trial. The trial continues on Monday, with one more witness before the evidence concludes.

    victim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyaccused, Jozef Puska, 33, male, Slovak, named, non-irishJozef Puska
  2. 3 Nov2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Jozef Puska tells trial he was stabbed by man who then attacked Ashling Murphy

    Reports the accused's evidence on the 14th day of his trial: he claimed a stranger stabbed him and then attacked Ms Murphy, and he admitted lying to gardaí and asking for his clothes to be burned.

    accused, Jozef Puska, 33, male, namedJozef Puskavictim, Ashling Murphy, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphy
  3. 2 Nov2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Ashling Murphy murder trial: Jozef Puska tells jury he was ‘not at all’ following woman around Tullamore

    Covers the accused's evidence at trial, the Garda interviews read to the jury, the Garda press office email and the Garda finding about the email sender. Records the accused's not guilty plea and the stab-wound cause of death.

    accused, Jozef Puska, 33, male, namedJozef Puskavictim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphy