All Rise: The Ashling Murphy Murder Trial

Five members of Jozef Puska's family have been sentenced for their roles in trying to cover up his murder of 23-year-old school teacher, Ashling Murphy. She was brutally murdered along the banks of the Grand Canal in January 2022. His wife, Lucia, pleaded guilty just before the trial began, while his two brothers and their wives were found guilty by a jury in June 2025. Each of them received a custodial sentence and in this episode, Frank and Aisling detail the court proceedings, the mitigating factors put forward by their defence teams, and the judge's ultimate reasoning for each sentence. They will also read in full the harrowing victim impact statements from Ashling's sister, Amy, and their father, Ray.

This is a special episode of Newstalk's podcast series All Rise, focusing on the trial of four members of Jozef Puska's family In November 2023, Jozef Puska was found guilty of murdering 23  year old schoolteacher Ashling Murphy in a brutal, unprovoked attack that shocked the nation. 18 months later, his brothers and their wives stood trial for various offences arising from the murder investigation; and a jury this week convicted all four of them. Frank Greaney and Aisling Moore look at how events unfolded in the courtroom – what the jury heard, and what they didn’t hear – including a guilty plea from Jozef Puska’s wife. They’ll also look ahead to what happens next as the Puskas await sentencing.

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’ll hear from one of the country’s most senior gardaí, who spoke to the media after Puska was taken back to prison.

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 Ashling’s legacy.

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 will take you through what happened in everything in court today, as well as reaction from Ashling’s family.

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 must find him not guilty. 33-year-old Jozef Puska, of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, denies murdering the school teacher along the Grand Canal in Tullamore on January 12th 2022.

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 Puska’s version of events - that he was attacked by a masked man who also killed Ashling Murphy - then they must acquit. Mr Puska, who’s 33 with an address of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, denies murder.

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 deliberations. Mr Puska denies murdering Ashling Murphy along the banks of the Grand Canal in Tullamore last year.

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 he killed Ashling Murphy in St James Hospital. He denies murdering the school teacher.

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 person claiming to be responsible for Ashling’s death. Mr Puska will continue giving his evidence tomorrow. He denies murdering the school teacher in Tullamore in January, 2022.

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 canal in Tullamore, Co Offaly on January 12th, 2022. Jozef Puska is on trial for her murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

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 admissions to Gardai were related to any drug. Mr. Puska denies murdering Ashling Murphy in Tullamore on January 12th, 2022.

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 Ashling’s murder on 19th January 2022. Mr Puska has pleaded not guilty.

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 evidence, which found a DNA profile from a bicycle was a match for Mr Puska. He denies murdering Ashling Murphy on 12th January 2022.

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 distressing in nature, listener discretion is advised.

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 lift home to Mucklagh that evening. Separately, a Garda Sgt gave evidence about the statement Mr Puska made to them about being "set upon and assaulted by two men" when he said he arrived in Blanchardstown to meet a woman. Mr Puska is on trial for Ashling’s murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

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. Anne-Marie 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 trial also heard from paramedics who were called to an apartment in Crumlin the next day, to treat Mr Puska for three stab wounds to his abdomen. Mr Puska denies murdering the 23-year old-school teacher.

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, Detective Garda Ronan Lawlor from the Garda Technical Bureau told the jury about his examination of the scene along the Grand Canal in Tullamore on January 12th, 2022. Earlier, Paul McCabe, who was the clinical lead with the ambulance service tasked to the scene, gave evidence of their efforts to resuscitate Ashling.

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 first gardai on the scene tried CPR and chest compression for 10-15 minutes. Mr Puska denies murdering Ashling Murphy on the 12th of January 2022. NOTE: Please note that this episode contains very graphic details from the postmortem, listener discretion is advised.

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 running along the canal bank on the afternoon Ashling died. Mr Puska denies the charge and has pleaded not guilty.