Ashling Murphy murder trial postponed: was due to start next month

The trial of 32 year old Slovakian national Jozef Puška which was due to commence next month has been postponed until Autumn. 

Puška is accused of murdering 23 year old Ashling Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on January 12, 2022. 

The school teacher was jogging in the area of the Grand Canal Tullamore when she was attacked and killed. 

It was reported that the trial was set to begin on the 7th of June and expected to last three weeks. 

The trial has been moved to October with Criminal Court Justice Paul McDermott setting a date for the second of the month. 

Ashling Murphy was a highly-regarded traditional musician from a musical family, having performed with Comhaltas and at the Tullamore Trad Fest. She often performed with her sister or other family members.

She was killed as she jogged on a popular canal towpath at 4pm. 

Ms Murphy was teaching in primary school Scoil Naomh Colmcille before her murder. 

The young teacher trained at Limerick’s Mary Immaculate College in August, 2017. A member of Ballyboy Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, the talented fiddle player also tutored students of traditional music.

In the aftermath of her death local Independent TD, Carol Nolan, said that the attack on Ms Murphy was a “horror beyond comprehension,”

Nolan went on to say that grief had descended on Tullamore and the local community following confirmation of Ashling’s tragic death.

“For Ashling’s family this is a horror beyond comprehension. Our hearts are breaking for them, and with them. I want to extend my own and my family’s personal prayers and support to all of Ashling’s family and friends during this time of bitter grief and heartrending sorrow,” she said.