Ireland Named in reporting
Lucia Istokova
Born 1989, from the ages reported. 43 reports across 3 cases, 14 Jun 2023 to 6 Nov 2025
Key facts
from every report naming them- Named as
- Convicted, accused
- Born
- 1989, from the ages reported
- Nationality
- Slovakian, as stated in a report
- Offences
- Perverting the course of justice (obstruction), Perjury (withholding information from gardaí), Witness interference (burning bloodstained clothes), Murder
- Where
- Co. Offaly
- Reporting
- 43 reports, 14 Jun 2023 to 6 Nov 2025
- Outlets
- irishmirror.ie, leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie, dublinlive.ie, gript.ie, thejournal.ie, rte.ie, irishtimes.com
Photographs
as published, with the outlet's credit
Images are shown from the outlet that published them and link back to the article. Copyright stays with the credited photographer or agency.
Cases
latest first- Five jailed for obstructing Ashling Murphy murder probe in Tullamore Perverting the course of justice (obstruction) · Co. Offaly
Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old Irish woman, was stabbed to death at Grand Canal Way, Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on 12 January 2022. Jozef Puška, a 32-year-old Slovakian man, was convicted of her murder after an 18-day trial at the Central Criminal Court and is serving a life sentence. Five Slovakian family members of Jozef Puška, his brothers Marek (34) and Lubomir (35) Puška, his wife Lucia Istokova (34), and Jozefina Grundzova (33) and Viera Gaziova (38), were arrested in Dublin in June 2023 and charged with failing to disclose information and impeding the apprehension of Jozef Puška. The five were sent forward for trial at the Central Criminal Court in December 2023 and were subsequently jailed, with the brothers receiving two and a half years and the women expected to be released in just over a year.
Sentenced, 6 Nov 2025Convicted, accused · 13 reports - Five sentenced for perjury and witness interference in Tullamore Perjury (withholding information from gardaí) · Co. Offaly
Jozef Puska murdered 23-year-old Irish schoolteacher Ashling Murphy by stabbing her in the neck on the canal towpath at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on 12 January 2022, and was convicted of murder in November 2023 and sentenced to life. His wife Lucia Istokova, brothers Marek and Lubomir Puska, and their wives Viera Gaziova and Jozefina Grundzova were charged in late 2023 with withholding information from gardaí and burning bloodstained clothes worn by Puska. Istokova pleaded guilty before the trial began, and a jury at the Central Criminal Court found the other four guilty on 17 June 2025. On 22 October 2025, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs sentenced all five to prison terms of 20 to 30 months, with six months suspended for the three women.
Sentenced, 22 Oct 2025Convicted, accused · 28 reports - Jozef Puska loses bid to backdate life sentence for Tullamore murder Murder · Co. Offaly
Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old primary school teacher (some reports say 22), was fatally assaulted while jogging along the Grand Canal at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on 12 January 2022. Jozef Puska, a Slovakian national whose age is reported variously as 31 to 35, was arrested on 18 January 2022 and charged with her murder the next day. He was sent forward for trial in April 2022, and a jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty of murder on 9 November 2023, with a mandatory life sentence imposed on 17 November 2023. He abandoned his conviction appeal on 10 July 2026, and on 16 July 2026 the Court of Appeal refused to backdate his sentence earlier than the November 2023 verdict.
Sentenced, 17 Nov 2023Accused · 2 reports
Timeline
every report naming Lucia Istokova, newest firstEach entry shows how that report described them.
- 6 Nov2025Brothers of Ashling Murphy killer Jozef Puska moved to different prisonconvicted, Lucia Istokova, female, namedLucia Istokova
- 24 Oct2025Jailed Puska family face deportation when released from jailaccused, Lucia Itstokova, 36, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Itstokova
- 23 Oct2025Ashling Murphy's boyfriend 'utterly disgusted' at Puska family's sentenceconvicted, Lucia Istokova, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 22 Oct2025Aisling Murphy's sister says her family felt "gaslit" as Jozef Puska's family members jailedconvicted, Lucia Istokova, 36, namedLucia Istokova
- 22 Oct2025Jozef Puska's family members jailed for withholding information and burning murderer's clothesconvicted, Lucia Istokova, 36, namedLucia Istokova
- 22 Oct2025Puska family members jailed for offences connected to Ashling Murphy murderaccused, Lucia Istokova, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 22 Oct2025Five members of Jozef Puska’s family jailed - Griptconvicted, Lucia Istokova, female, namedLucia Istokova
- 22 Oct2025Five members of Jozef Puska's family jailed for withholding evidence on murder of Ashling Murphyconvicted, Lucia Istokova, 36, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 22 Oct2025Five family members of Jozef Puska given jail termsconvicted, Lucia Istokova, namedLucia Istokova
- 8 Oct2025Sentencing hearing held for family members of Ashling Murphy murderer Jozef Puskaconvicted, Lucia Istokova, 36, female, namedLucia Istokova
- 7 Oct2025Jozef Puska's partner's life imploded when 'loving partner' became a killer, says barristerconvicted, Lucia Istokova, 36, namedLucia Istokova
- 7 Oct2025Judge tells Jozef Puska's family to get affairs in orderconvicted, Lucia Istokova, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 8 Jul2025Relations of Ashling Murphy's murderer Jozef Puska will not appeal convictionsconvicted, Lucia Istokova, 36, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 7 Jul2025Puska family members will not appeal Murphy convictionsconvicted, Lucia Istokova, 36, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 7 Jul2025Brothers of Ashling Murphy murderer Jozef Puska 'accept jury verdict'convicted, Lucia Istokova, 36, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 7 Jul2025Jozef Puska’s relatives now accept jury verdict and will not appeal conviction, court hearsconvicted, Lucia Istokova, 36, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 7 Jul2025Puska associates will not appeal guilty verdicts - Griptconvicted, Lucia Istokova, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 18 Jun2025Jozef Puska's wife knew he'd killed or seriously injured woman on day of Ashling Murphy's murderaccused, Lucia Istokova, 36, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 17 Jun2025Two of Jozef Puska’s brothers found guilty of withholding key information about Ashling Murphy murderconvicted, Lucia Istokova, 36, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 17 Jun2025Puska brothers' wives found guilty - Griptconvicted, Lucia Istakova, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istakova
- 17 Jun2025Four guilty of actions after Ashling Murphy murderconvicted, Lucia Istokova, namedLucia Istokova
- 17 Jun2025Reporting restrictions applied to Puska trial - Griptconvicted, Lucia Ist0kova, 34, namedLucia Ist0kova
- 24 Jan2024New trial to start arising from the Ashling Murphy murder investigationaccused, Lucia Istokova, 34, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 24 Jan2024Jozef Puska's wife and two brothers to go on trial accused of failing to disclose information to gardaíaccused, Lucia Istokova, 34, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 24 Jan2024Trial date set for wife and brothers of Jozef Puskaaccused, Lucia Istokova, 34, namedLucia Istokova
- 24 Jan2024Wife and two brothers of Jozef Puska to go on trial in 2025 accused of failing to disclose information to gardaíaccused, Lucia Istokova, 34, namedLucia Istokova
- 21 Dec2023Five sent forward for trial for allegedly obstructing Ashling Murphy murder investigationaccused, Lucia Istokova, namedLucia Istokova
- 20 Dec2023Five face trial for obstructing Ashling Murphy murder investigationaccused, Lucia Istokova, namedLucia Istokova
- 20 Dec2023Wife of Jozef Puska charged over withholding information on Ashling Murphy investigationaccused, Lucia Istokova, 34, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 20 Dec2023Five charged over obstruction of Ashling Murphy inquiryaccused, Lucia Istokova, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 7 Dec2023Wife of murderer Jozef Puska visits him in Midlands Prisonaccused, Lucia Istokova, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 24 Nov2023Brothers of Ashling Murphy's killer before Midlands court in Decemberaccused, Lucia Istokova, 34, female, namedLucia Istokova
- 23 Nov2023Brothers of Ashling's killer due before Offaly court next monthaccused, Lucia Istokova, 34, female, namedLucia Istokova
- 22 Nov2023Wife of murderer Jozef Puska due in court next monthaccused, Lucia Istokova, female, namedLucia Istokova
- 22 Nov2023Wife of murderer Jozef Puska charged with withholding information in caseaccused, Lucia Istokova, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 2 Oct2023Trial of man accused of Ashling Murphy murder to start today - Griptaccused, Lucia Istokova, 34, Slovakian, named, non-irishLucia Istokova
- 26 Jul2023Five face trial in connection with Ashling Murphy murder investigationaccused, Lucia Istokova, 34, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 26 Jul2023Five people in court over Ashling Murphy murder inquiryaccused, Lucia Istokova, 34, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 15 Jun2023Five Slovakians charged in relation to Ashling Murphy murder case - Griptaccused, Lucia Istokova, 34, Slovakian, named, non-irishLucia Istokova
- 14 Jun2023Five appear in court charged in connection with Ashling Murphy murder probeaccused, Lucia Istokova, 34, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lucia Istokova
- 14 Jun2023Five appear in court in connection with investigation into murder of Ashling Murphyaccused, Lucia Istokova, 34, namedLucia Istokova
- 14 Jun2023Five appear before judge in Midlands after Dublin arrestsaccused, Lucia Istokova, 34, female, namedLucia Istokova
- 14 Jun2023Five appear before judge in Offaly after Dublin arrestsaccused, Lucia Istokova, 34, female, namedLucia Istokova
Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.