Chilling CCTV Footage Shows Final Movements in Ashling Murphy Murder Trial
The murder trial of Jozef Puska, 33, accused of killing schoolteacher Ashling Murphy, took a dramatic turn as the jury watched CCTV footage capturing the victim’s last moments. Puska, from Mucklagh, Co Offaly, steadfastly denies any involvement in the attack that shocked Ireland beside the Grand Canal on January 12, 2022.
Hours of CCTV Reveal Key Movements
Gardaí sifted through a staggering 25,000 hours of CCTV footage to piece together the timeline. Garda David Harney presented clips showing Puska cycling from his home at 12:30pm to Tullamore town centre around 2pm on the day of the murder.
At 1:38pm, footage captured a woman in a maroon jacket walking into Cloncollig retail park, with Puska cycling closely behind her. Both entered the car park, with the woman heading inside a shop while Puska cycled down a nearby service road before returning.
By 1:53pm, the footage showed Puska stopping, reaching into his pockets, and clutching something—though defence lawyers argued the video was too grainy to confirm this.
Last Known Sightings Before Tragedy Unfolds
Puska was next seen at 2:05pm near the Grand Canal at Daingean Road car park, just half an hour before Ashling Murphy left Durrow National School and drove to the same car park at 2:55pm—her final known location.
The jury was told no CCTV covered the route from the car park to where Murphy’s body was discovered. Later footage caught a man identified as Puska walking near a bypass outside Tullamore, then getting into a car.
Grim Details and Emotional Testimony
More CCTV showed Puska arriving at an apartment in Crumlin, Dublin, with his parents in the early hours following the murder. Witnesses noted his stark change in appearance when paramedics took him from the building.
Paramedic Paul McCabe described the horrific scene upon finding Murphy’s body, confirming she showed no signs of life and suffered deep wounds to her neck.
Scenes of crime examiner Garda Ronan Lawlor revealed multiple wounds on the victim’s neck. Crucial items recovered at the scene included sunglasses, a pink woolly hat, two blue Nike trainers, and personal belongings belonging to Murphy.
The trial grinds on as the court pieces together the terrifying events of that tragic day.
