THE HARDEST WALK

Family visit scene of canal attack. Gardai seize cars linked to suspect

- JOHN HAND

WITH their heads bowed in grief, the family of Ashling Murphy yesterday visited the scene where the 23-year-old was murdered.

Dad Raymond, mum Kathleen, brother Cathal and sister Amy spent 10 minutes at the Grand Canal in the presence of gardai.

Later, hundreds of supportive locals gathered at the family home outside Tullamore in Co Offaly to offer their sympathies.

It came as officers were last night examining two seized vehicles linked to the chief suspect, who is in hospital. Detectives hope to be able to quiz the man from today.

GARDAI SEIZE CARS LINKED TO SUSPECT

Cops hope to quiz man on teacher’s brutal killing

23-year-old’s loved ones prepare to say goodbyes

GARDAI are examining two cars they have seized linked to the new chief suspect in Ashling Murphy’s murder – who they hope to quiz as early as today.

The man is in a Dublin hospital where a Garda presence remained last night as he is being treated for “self-inflicted” wounds which resulted in him taken in on Thursday.

But they may get a chance to interview him today if medics give the go-ahead.

Officers believe the man was given a lift from Tullamore in Offaly to the capital on Wednesday, the day primary school teacher Ashling Murphy was brutally murdered at the canal bank at Cappincur.

He then is understood to have stayed at a house with extended family in South Dublin, before he was brought to hospital with his wounds the following day.