Trial date set for Jozef Puska, man accused Ashling Murphy’s murder

He was arrested not long after the murder took place.

The man who has been accused of murdering Ashling Murphy in Tullamore earlier this year is set to go on trial at the Central Criminal Court in June next year.

31-year-old Jozef Puska of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly has been charged with the murder that occurred at Cappincur, Tullamore on the afternoon of January 12, 2022.

Ashling was fatally assaulted while she was jogging along the Grand Canal in Tullamore in the late afternoon.

The trial will begin on June 6 and it is expected to take three to four weeks, with Puska appearing via videolink from prison this morning for a briefing.

There was public outcry following her death as people in both Ireland and around the world mourned.

According to Independent.ie, Puska was sent forward for trial on April 6 to the Central Criminal Court after he was served with the book of evidence, and free legal aid was granted.

Ashling was buried on January 18th in her hometown of Mountbolus, Co. Offaly at St Brigid’s Church, where parish priest Fr Michael Meade said that Ashling’s family, friends, and boyfriend “have been robbed of your most precious gift – a gift that gave only joy and love, fun and laughter to many beyond your family.”

“We give thanks for the privilege of sharing in this most wonderful gift of Ashling Murphy. Today we share our love, our grief, our faith and our comfort with the Murphy and Leonard families,” he said.

“The issues raised in many ways and by many voices since this horrible act of violence will, we pray, continue to evolve and bring the change we need so much, to simply give and show respect.”