Jozef Puska was today handed a life sentence for the murder of Ashling Murphy. In this episode, we’ll bring you the incredibly powerful and emotional victim impact statements delivered by Ashling’s family at today’s hearing. We’ll also discuss the remarks of the judge in relation to the sentencing regime for convicted murderers in Ireland. And we’l…

In this extended episode, Deborah Naylor, Courts Correspondent with Virgin Media News; and Eoin Reynolds, Courts Reporter with Courts News Ireland, join us to discuss what the jury didn’t hear during the trial. And with Jozef Puska now a convicted murderer, we speak more freely about our opinions on the evidence, and we also have a chat about Ashli…

Jozef Puska has been found guilty of murdering Ashling Murphy. The jury deliberated for over two hours, but returned to Court 13 soon after 2pm when their foreman delivered the guilty verdict. Mr Justice Tony Hunt added his own remarks, saying he agreed with their outcome, and added “we have evil in this room”. In this episode, Frank and Aisling wi…

The jury in the Ashling Murphy murder trial has begun its deliberations. In his charge to the jury this afternoon, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said if they’re to convict Jozef Puska of murder – they must be satisfied he stabbed Ashling Murphy 11 times in the neck. Mr Justice Hunt said if they’re satisfied that no crime has been committed by Mr Puska, they…

Today, the jury in the Ashling Murphy murder trial was told Jozef Puska has provided an ‘unequivocal structure of lies and mistruths’. However, the defence has told jurors that they must be ‘very careful’ in assessing the evidence provided to them in this case Later this afternoon, Mr Justice Tony Hunt told the jurors that if they believe Jozef Pus…

The jury in Jozef Puska’s trial for the murder of Ashling Murphy has now heard all of the evidence in the case. The final piece of evidence presented to them came from an expert witness for the defence, who raised concerns about the reliability of Mr Puska’s confession. The jurors were also given an update as to when they are likely to begin their …

Jozef Puska has told the Central Criminal Court that he doesn't remember confessing to killing Ashling Murphy while he was in hospital. Today he claimed he and Ms. Murphy were both attacked by a man wearing a face mask. Under cross examination this afternoon from the prosecution, Jozef Puska said he didn’t remember making admissions to Gardaí that …

Jozef Puska has taken the stand in the trial where he is accused of the murder of Ashling Murphy. Before this, the prosecution closed its case by reading some of the Garda interviews with Mr Puska in Tullamore Garda Station after he was discharged from St James’ Hospital. The jury also heard about an email sent to the Garda Press Office from a pers…

The Ashling Murphy Murder Trial hit its "first speed bump” today. For the first time since the trial opened last month, the jurors were sent home without hearing from any witnesses. In this episode, you’ll hear what the judge had to say to them before he adjourned the case. Ashling Murphy was killed while exercising along the banks of the grand can…

The jury in the Ashling Murphy murder trial has heard there's no evidence to suggest medication had an effect on Jozef Puska in relation to admissions he made to Gardaí two days after her death. Professor Michael Ryan, an expert in pharmacology and toxicology, told the jury that in his opinion there is no evidence to suggest Jozef Puska’s admission…

Today the jury heard evidence that a DNA profile matching that of Jozef Puska was found under Ashling Murphy’s fingernails. Dr Lorna Flanagan said the likelihood of this male DNA belonging to someone unrelated to him was 'one in 14,000'. The jury also heard from Detective Sergeant David Scahill about arresting and ultimately charging Mr Puska with …

Today the jury heard evidence from the interpreter who acted as a translator between gardaí and Jozef Puska while he was in St James’ Hospital. Miroslav Sedlacek said Mr Puska asked him to translate ‘accurately and exactly’, saying ‘I did it’ but that he didn’t do it intentionally. The jury of nine men and three women also heard some forensic evide…

At today’s hearing of the Ashling Murphy murder trial, the jury heard Jozef Puska told Gardaí he was the murderer. The jurors also heard evidence about a search warrant being executed and of how he became upset as said he committed the murder. He denies murdering 23 year old school teacher Ashling Murphy. NOTE: Some of the evidence heard today is d…

In today’s sitting at the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard about evidence taken from Ashling Murphy’s Fitbit smart watch. She was wearing it on the day she died, and it tracked her heart rate and exercise route along the canal in Tullamore on the afternoon of 12th January 2022. The jury also heard from a friend of Jozef Puska who gave him a l…

At today’s sitting of the trial of Jozef Puska, a woman described a man cycling slowly and close to her on the day Ashling Murphy was killed. Annemarie Kelly told the jury that she first noticed a man who she felt was cycling close to her near to McDonalds in Tullamore on January 12th 2022. She claims she later saw him again on the Grand Canal. The…

CCTV footage showing some of Ashling Murphy’s last known movements was shown to the jury today in the trial of a man accused of her murder. 33-year-old Jozef Puska, of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh in Co Offaly has pleaded not guilty. In this episode, Frank outlines the CCTV footage of both Ashling Murphy and Mr Puska on the day she died. This morning, D…

Evidence of the post-mortem examination of Ashling Murphy was heard at the trial of Jozef Puska today. State Pathologist Sally Anne Collis said Ashling died as a result of stab wounds with a knife or sharp implement, and noted that there were some injuries to Ashling’s fingers which may have been defensive in nature. The trial also heard how the fi…

Today the trial of Jozef Puska heard from a man who discovered Ashling Murphy's body on the day she died. Enda Molloy was the first person to see Ashling Murphy laying in a hedgerow after the alleged attack. In this episode, Frank outlines the evidence heard from Mr Molloy and seven other witnesses in the trial today, including two women who were r…

In the first full day of the trial of Jozef Puska, prosecuting barrister Ann Marie Lawlor opened her case before the jury. They were also shown maps and photographs from the stretch of the canal where Ashling Murphy was killed.

Jozef Puska, the man charged with the murder of Ashling Murphy, has pleaded not guilty in the Central Criminal Court today, and a jury was then sworn in. In this first episode episode, Frank and Aisling set out the processes involved in jury selection, and what's expected when the trial opens tomorrow.…

A daily podcast covering the trial proceedings for Jozef Puska, the man charged with the murder of Ashling Murphy. The alleged assault took place along the Grand Canal in Tullamore in January 2022.