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. 3566Murder · Co. Offaly · 12 Jan 2022

State given more time to respond to Jozef Puska's appeal over Ashling Murphy murder conviction

The Court of Appeal extended the deadline for the State to file responding submissions in Jozef Puska's appeal against his murder conviction for killing schoolteacher Ashling Murphy, 23, in Tullamore, Co Offaly, in January 2022. The appeal hearing is set for 23–24 April 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court13 Mar
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatPuska killed Murphy by repeatedly stabbing her in the neck along a canal towpath outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe jury found Puska stabbed Murphy 11 times in the neck and slashed her once with the edge of a blade. (irishtimes.com)
  • wherePuska had an address at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereMurphy was left to die in thick thorns and brambles by the side of the canal towpath between Tullamore town and Digby Bridge. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Isobel Kennedy extended the time for the State to file replying submissions to April 14th. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge granted the application for a Slovakian interpreter. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtPuska was granted legal aid for his appeal on the same basis as his trial representation, which included a solicitor, a senior counsel and two junior counsel. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence argued the jury should not hear Puska's confession to gardaí made two days after the stabbing. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence objected to the prosecution showing CCTV footage of Puska stalking two women in Tullamore town centre before heading to the canal. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPuska was convicted of murder and is serving a life sentence. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA monument now stands where Murphy died. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPuska told detectives he stopped working in 2017 after slipping a disk in his back. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defence said Puska was suffering the effects of abdominal surgery and was under the influence of the painkiller Oxycodone at the time of his confession. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Mar2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    State given more time to respond to Jozef Puska’s appeal submissions over Ashling Murphy murder conviction

    Reports on a procedural delay in Puska's Court of Appeal hearing: his submissions were over a month late, the State was given until 14 April to file responding submissions, the April 23–24 hearing date was maintained, and a Slovakian interpreter was granted.

    victim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyconvicted, Jozef Puska, 35, male, Slovakian, named, non-irishJozef Puska