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. 7318Murder · Co. Offaly · 12 Jan 2022

Trial of Jozef Puska for murder of Ashling Murphy hears paramedic evidence

Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old primary school teacher, is alleged to have been killed on the afternoon of 12 January 2022 while out running along the Grand Canal at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly. Jozef Puska, a 33-year-old Slovak national (one report gives his age as 32), is charged with her murder, and the State says he admitted it to gardaí at St James's Hospital in Dublin. His trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury at the Central Criminal Court opened with a not guilty plea, and on 18 and 19 October 2023 a witness, a State Pathologist and a Garda gave evidence. On 20 October 2023, on day five, a paramedic told the court he stopped resuscitation because Ms Murphy showed no signs of life, and the trial continues.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court18 Oct
    6 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, is alleged to have been killed while out running along the Grand Canal.
  • Jozef Puska, a Slovak national aged 33 (one report says 32), is charged with the murder of Ashling Murphy.
Where
The alleged killing happened at Cappincur on Grand Canal Way, Tullamore, Co Offaly, and her body was found near Digby's Bridge.
When
The incident is alleged to have happened on the afternoon of 12 January 2022.
Cause
A State Pathologist, Dr Sally Anne Collis, found that Ms Murphy died from 11 stab wounds to the neck out of 12 wounds in total, and the defence accepts this cause of death.
Weapon
The pathologist said the injuries were consistent with a knife or similar implement, and some with a serrated blade.
Investigation
  • The State says Puska admitted the murder to gardaí at St James's Hospital in Dublin, and his bike was left beside Ms Murphy's body.
  • Witness Jenna Stack, who was running with a friend, told the court she saw a man crouched over a girl whose legs were kicking, and she was called in the following day to identify the attacker.
Other details
  • The witness later said she had made a mistake when identifying a man on an identity parade.
  • Paramedic Paul McCabe told the court he stopped resuscitation because Ms Murphy showed no signs of life, after a call at 3.49pm and his arrival at Cappincur at 3.56pm.
  • No prior connection between Ashling Murphy and Puska has been reported.
In court
  • The defence put it to the witness that the man on top of Ms Murphy was Puska, but says the man she identified was not Puska and that Puska cut himself in briars and shouted.
  • The trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women at the Central Criminal Court, and was expected to last up to six weeks.
Charges
Puska pleaded not guilty to murder through an interpreter and denies the charge, which carries a mandatory life sentence if he is convicted.
58 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAshling Murphy died after an alleged assault while she was out for a run along the Grand Canal in Tullamore. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA witness, Jenna Stack, told the court she saw a man crouched over a girl whose legs were kicking. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAshling Murphy, aged 23, was killed while out for a run along the canal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim, Ashling Murphy, was a primary school teacher who was killed while out running along the canal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatJozef Puska is charged with the murder of Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old national school teacher. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe scene was in the townland of Cappincur on the Grand Canal outside Tullamore. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereMs Murphy was jogging along the Grand Canal. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident happened by the Grand Canal in Tullamore, Co Offaly. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereMs Murphy's body was found near Digby's Bridge on the banks of the canal in Tullamore. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe killing is alleged to have happened at Cappincur, Tullamore. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe murder is alleged to have happened on Grand Canal Way, Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe killing took place on 12 January 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe witness saw the man on the afternoon of 12 January 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident happened on the afternoon of 12 January 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenMs Murphy's body was found on the afternoon of 12 January 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe alleged murder happened on 12 January 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe murder is alleged to have happened on the afternoon of January 12 last year. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeAshling Murphy died from 12 wounds, 11 of which were stab wounds. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe prosecution's case is that Mr Puska stabbed Ms Murphy 11 times in the neck. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeA doctor found stab wounds to the neck, which the defence accepts as the cause of death. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeA pathologist determined that Ms Murphy died from 12 stab wounds. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeAshling Murphy died from 11 stab wounds to her neck. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeAshling Murphy was found in the undergrowth by the Grand Canal in Tullamore with 12 sharp force wounds to her neck. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponThe pathologist said the stab injuries were inflicted by a knife or a similar implement. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponHer injuries were consistent with being inflicted by a knife or similar implement. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe State's case is that Puska admitted the murder to gardaí in St James's Hospital in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationPuska's bike was left beside Ashling Murphy's body. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationMr Puska allegedly told gardaí in hospital that he had murdered. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe witness was called in the following day to identify the attacker. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargePuska is charged with murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence if convicted. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeJozef Puska is on trial accused of murdering Ashling Murphy. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeJozef Puska has pleaded not guilty to murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeJozef Puska has denied the murder of Ms Murphy. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial began before the Central Criminal Court and could last up to six weeks. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtPuska pleaded not guilty to the murder charge through an interpreter. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury has three women and nine men. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial judge is Mr Justice Tony Hunt. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence admitted under section 22 that Cathal Murphy identified his sister Ashling at Tullamore hospital. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA witness told the court she and a friend were out for a run by the canal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe witness told the court she saw a man on top of Murphy. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe defence put it to the witness that the man on top of Murphy was Puska. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe defence said Puska cut himself in briars and shouted out because of this. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe defence told the court the man the witness identified was not Puska. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJozef Puska formally denies murdering Ashling Murphy. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA Garda gave evidence on the fourth day of the murder trial. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA State Pathologist gave evidence to a jury at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence accepts Ms Murphy's cause of death was as identified by Dr Collis. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe article reports on the third day of the trial of Jozef Puska. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial continues the following day. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMr Puska denies the charge and is being tried before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of three women and nine men. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThere was no prior connection between Ashling Murphy and Puska. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe witness said she had made a mistake when identifying a man on an identity parade. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Detective Sergeant said the image of Ms Murphy with her mouth wide open has stayed with him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe trial continues. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA paramedic told the trial that he decided to stop resuscitation attempts because Ms Murphy displayed no signs of life. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe paramedic said the call came in at 3.49pm and he arrived at Cappincur at 3.56pm. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Oct2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Ashling Murphy trial hears paramedic tell how she showed no sign of life

    Trial report from day five of the trial. It gives the paramedic's evidence on the scene, the location, the court and the trial judge and jury. No earlier record for this case appears in the list.

    accused, Jozef Puska, 33, male, Slovak, named, non-irishJozef Puskavictim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphy
  2. 19 Oct2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Ashling Murphy died as a result of 11 stab wounds to her neck, pathologist tells Central Criminal Court

    Covers day three of Jozef Puska's murder trial, including the pathologist's evidence on cause of death and the defence accepting that cause, plus Garda and witness evidence about the scene.

    victim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyaccused, Jozef Puska, 33, male, Slovak, named, non-irishJozef Puska
  3. 19 Oct2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Garda tells Ashling Murphy trial how image of her has stuck with him

    Reports fourth day of the murder trial: Garda evidence about attending the scene and CPR, and pathologist evidence of 12 stab wounds. Puska has pleaded not guilty.

    victim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyaccused, Jozef Puska, 33, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jozef Puska
  4. 18 Oct2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Witness tells trial she saw man on top of Ashling Murphy who shouted 'get away'

    Reports the trial testimony of witness Jenna Stack and the defence cross-examination, including the defence case that Puska was trying to help Murphy and that the man the witness identified was not Puska.

    victim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyaccused, Jozef Puska, male, namedJozef Puska
  5. 18 Oct2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Ashling Murphy trial: Man was crouched over girl whose legs were ‘kicking very hard’, witness says

    Report of the second day of the Central Criminal Court trial: a witness's evidence, defence cross-examination, and admissions read to the jury. Not previously recorded.

    victim, Ashling Murphy, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyaccused, Jozef Puska, 33, male, Slovak, named, non-irishJozef Puska
  6. 18 Oct2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Ashling Murphy trial: Jozef Puska in court charged with Tullamore murder

    Live coverage of the trial's opening days: the prosecution opening, the plea of not guilty, the jury selection, and evidence from a Garda mapping witness, a Garda photographer and the State's claim that Puska made admissions to gardaí. No existing case in the list covers this incident.

    victim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyaccused, Jozef Puska, 32, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jozef Puska