Man appears in court charged with murder of primary school teacher Ashling Murphy

19 January 2022, 11:14 | Updated: 20 January 2022, 07:10

A man has been remanded in custody after being charged with the murder of 23-year-old Ashling Murphy.

Jozef Puska appeared before a special sitting of Tullamore District Court at 8.15pm on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old, whose address was given as a street in Tullamore, County Offaly, was remanded into custody at Cloverhill Prison.

Ashling, 23, died after being attacked last week while out jogging beside a canal.

A second man arrested in connection with Ms Murphy's death has been released without charge.

Hundreds of mourners attended Ashling's funeral Mass yesterday. 

Her heartbroken boyfriend, Ryan Casey, told mourners at her graveside that Ashling 'is the greatest love of my life'. 

He said: "I will cherish the last five years we spent together for my entire life. I hope that some day, God willing, we can be reunited once more and continue the great plans we had made for each other. 

"Goodbye for now, but not for ever, darling. Ashling shall live on in all of our hearts."

Ashling's friends and family also gathered for her funeral mass in the village of Mountbolus, Co. Offaly, yesterday.

Yesterday flags in Ireland were flown at half mast and moments of silence were observed nationwide.

President Michael D Higgins, his wife Sabina, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Justice Minister Helen McEntee were among those in attendance at Ashling's funeral. 

Education Minister Norma Foley and Culture Minister Catherine Martin also attended. 

Vigils have been held across Ireland and the world to remember Ms Murphy and to call for a change in tackling gender-based violence.