A 31-year-old man has been charged in connection with the murder of 23-year-old Ashling Murphy in Ireland, authorities said. The arrest comes as thousands across the world over mourn the death of the school teacher, who was slain while she was on a run in broad daylight.
Jozef Puska was arrested on Tuesday after being discharged from a hospital in Co. Dublin from injuries the day after Murphy’s death, officials said. He is currently being held in Cloverhill Prison, Clondalkin (Co. Dublin).
Murphy was attacked on the Grand Canal banks in Tullamore Co. Offaly. Murphy was about an hour west from Dublin at 4 p.m. According to authorities, she was beaten to death. Irish Central reported.
Before the gruesome assault, the primary school teacher had been running on a path known as Fiona’s Way, created in memory of a 25-year-old woman Fiona Pender, who was seven months pregnant when she disappeared in August 1996. Pender has never been found,The Irish Examiner reported.
Puska, 31, of Tullamore, was heckled as he was taken from the car of a national police officer, referred to in Ireland as the Gardaí, to a special sitting of Tullamore District Court on Wednesday, GBN reported.
During Wednesday’s court hearing, Detective Sergeant David Scahill gave evidence of arrest and charge. He stated to the court that Puska had been charged with murder at 7 :42 p.m. Scahill claimed that Puska replied when he was given the charge. “No,”The Irish Independent reported.
While this was taking place, a number of Murphy’s family members stood in court holding up framed photos of the beloved teacher, daughter, sister, friend and talented folk musician.
Eoin Lysaght, Puksa’s lawyer, is applying for legal aid and for an interpreter for Puska, who is a Slovakian national, for future court appearances and consultations.
The Guardian reported that large crowds shouted at the suspect outside the Tullamore District court as the suspect left.
The Independent reported that a second man was taken into custody on Wednesday for allegedly withholding information. He was not charged.
Puska’s next hearing date is scheduled for Jan. 26 at Cloverhill District Court.
Puska’s attorney did not respond to Inside Edition Digital’s request for comment.
In the wake of the killing of Murphy, vigils have been held in Ireland and across the world.
Funeral mourners gathered in Murphy’s honor on Tuesday. Thousands flocked to the village of Mountbolus and outside the service held at St. Brigid’s Church, the same church where Murphy had been baptized and given Holy Communion. Murphy’s devastated parents, Raymond and Kathleen, her sister Amy, her brother Cathal and her boyfriend Ryan Casey reportedly placed their hands on the mahogany-colored casket as their heads lowered.
There were also children from the local primary schools, some from Murphy’s class, in the crowd. Some were stoic and others cried as they each held a single red rose and a copy of Murphy’s gradation photo with the message, “Fly High in the Sky. Our Shining Light.” Irish President Michael D. Higgins and Taoiseach Micheál Martin were also in attendance.
“Together we grieve, we pray, we hurt – this is the heavy price we pay for love,” Father Michael Meade said during his homily.
At the request of the Murphy family, musicians brought their instruments to play in honor of Murphy, who was talented and accomplished musician. Readings and prayers of the faithful were also read during the service,The Irish Times reported.
“You have been robbed of your most precious gift – a gift that gave only joy and love, fun and laughter to many,” Meade told the family.
“A depraved act of violence which deprived a kind, talented, loved and admired young woman of her life which has since united the country in grief and support,” Bishop Tom Deenihan said of the killing.
Murphy was described by a family friend. Sunday World As “a beautiful, confident and vibrant young woman who lived and loved life to the fullest.” Murphy came from a loving and tight-knit family. She grew up listening to traditional Irish music in her home and was always willing to contribute her musical talents to the services at St. Brigid’s Church as a fiddle player. Sunday World reported.
She also was passionate about camogie, an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women. Her involvement at the junior and senior levels was “at the core of who she was,”A family friend shared the following:
In a heartbreaking tribute at her gravesite, Murphy’s boyfriend Ryan called Ashling “the greatest love of my life.”
“She so much more to me than a girlfriend. She was my soul mate; she is my soul mate and she will always be my soul mate,” he said. “She was the greatest love of my life. I will cherish the last five years we spent together and I hope that someday, God willing, we can be reunited once more and continue the great plans we had made for each other.
“Goodbye for now but not forever darling, Ashling, you will live in all our hearts and memories,” he said.
Tributes to Murphy continued through the week. On Wednesday, dozens of people walked along the canal in Tullamore, marking a week since Murphy’s tragic death. In New York, a walk and run will be held in Central Park on Sunday in memory of Murphy, with proceeds benefiting Women’s Aid Ireland.
Amy Brett and Sarah Cosgrave, both of whom are from Co. Mayo and who now live in New York, said they wanted to do something in honor of Murphy.
“Ashling hasn’t left my mind since I heard of her death, so I can’t even imagine what her loved ones and those that knew her are going through. If us organizing this run can help stop a story like this from ever being told again, it will be well worth it,” Brett told Irish Central.
Since they publicized the event on social media, they have received an overwhelming response. As of Wednesday, about 250 people registered for the walk.
“The response and support have been unbelievable – not to mention so many businesses came forwarded and donated prizes for the raffle and made donations to Women’s Aid,” Brett said. “The Irish people are a special and rare breed.”
This charity event is “Run For Ashling” will begin at the Boat House in Central Park at 4 p.m. on Sunday with a suggested donation of $30 to participate. All proceeds will be donated to Women’s Aid IrelandThe organization works to end domestic violence against children and women.