Message to Murphy family four years on: 'We will support you all the way'

Exactly four years since Ashling Murphy was murdered near Tullamore, on Monday afternoon her family and the local community walked along the canal bank to the place where she died.

The Ashling Murphy Memorial Walk is now an annual event commemorating the 23-year-old who was exercising on the Grand Canal near Digby Bridge, Cappincur when she was stabbed to death.

A primary teacher at Durrow National School, the young Blueball woman had driven to the car park near Digby Bridge after completing a day's work.

Led by Ashling's parents Ray and Kathleen, her sister Amy and brother Cathal, hundreds of people gathered at the car park at 3pm and walked in silence the short distance to the canal side shrine which marks the site of the murder.

After a decade of the rosary was led by Tom Lawless, Durrow National School principal James Hogan spoke on behalf of the Murphy family and the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund, thanking everyone, locally, nationally and worldwide, for their support.

Mr Hogan said it was hard to believe four years had passed. “But unfortunately that is life and we have to remember Ashling for the positives she brought to our world in the 23 short years,” he said.

He spoke about how the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund has been set up to keep her name and legacy alive. “And that for sure we will do. It has proven to date, the great support we've got from so many individuals, organisations, clubs, from fundraising and various events to keep her memory alive. But as that money comes in, we give it out twice as fast.”

He said over €150,000 worth of support for various agencies, individuals, clubs, sports, schools and Comhaltas branches had been distributed from the fund so far.

“Ashling was involved in sport, music, the teanga Gaeilge, school. A real community person. We're delighted to be able to support and keep that going.”

He also thanked all the local people who kept the shrine beautifully and who visited it regularly. “It all does help. And we're very grateful. Ashling might not be here but she's always with us in spirit.”

He added: “We think of her on this day, four years on from her tragic loss. She is deeply, deeply missed every day. It's wrong, it is wrong, and it's not fair. But we have to move forward together and we will.”

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He acknowledged the presence of the Murphy family, Ashling's boyfriend at the time of her death, Ryan Casey, and offered the community's sympathy to them.

“You're a credit. You're so proud of her, and you should be and we know you are and she's very proud of you. And we will support you all the way.”

Ashling Murphy, a talented musician and fiddle tutor, was then remembered with a selection of traditional Irish tunes played by many of those present, including her father Ray and her sister Amy.

Jozef Puska (35), a former resident of Mucklagh and native of Slovakia, is serving a life sentence for the murder of Ashling Murphy.

He had denied the killing but was found guilty after a trial at the Central Criminal Court in 2023. An appeal has been fixed for April.

Two of his brothers, Lubomir Jnr and Marek Puska were later convicted of withholding information from gardai during the investigation.

Viera Gaziova, wife of Lubomir Jnr Puska, and Jozefina Grundzova, wife of Marek, were convicted of obstructing the prosecution of Jozef Puska. All were convicted after denying the charges.

Lucia Istokova, wife of Jozef Puska, was convicted after she pleaded guilty to withholding information from gardai.

All of those convicted lived with their children in the same house at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh.