Ashling killer's sisters-in-law 'burnt clothes to hide murder'

GARDAI couldn't find the clothes Jozef Puska wore when he murdered Ashling Murphy as his sisters-in-law burned them, a jury was told yesterday.

- BY EOIN REYNOLDS

Prosecutor Sean Gillane opened the trial yesterday of his brothers who are charged with withholding information.

Their wives are also accused of burning Puska’s clothes to impede his arrest or prosecution.

Mr Gillane told the jury that Jozef Puska, 35, is not an accused in this trial but he “looms very large”.

On the afternoon of January 12, 2022, he attacked Ashling, a 23-year-old teacher, on the canal towpath at Cappincur in Tullamore, Co Offaly.

She died having suffered 12 sharp force injuries to her neck, 11 of which were stab wounds.

Mr Gillane said gardai immediately launched an investigation to identify the male whom two witnesses saw on top of Ms Murphy in the bushes by the canal towpath.

He added: “The oxygen in any investigation of this type is information. Information which is relevant, material and significant.”

Counsel said as the investigation continued, it became apparent Jozef Puska had returned to his home at Lynally Grove in Mucklagh, near Tullamore, on the night of Ms Murphy's murder.

Mr Gillane added: “At the core of the case is what Puska said during his time at that address on that night and what was clearly observable about his demeanour.”