Jozef Puska’s appeal over his conviction for Ashling Murphy's murder set for April

The defence argues that the jury should not hear Puska's confession to gardaí two days after the stabbing

Jozef Puska (pictured), who told detectives that he stopped working in 2017 after slipping a disc in his back, has been granted legal aid for his appeal on the same basis as his representation during his trial at the Central Criminal Court. File photo

A hearing date has been fixed for Jozef Puska’s appeal against his conviction for the murder of schoolteacher Ashling Murphy.

Puska is alleged to have killed 23-year-old Ms Murphy on January 12, 2022, by repeatedly stabbing her in the neck after attacking her while she exercised along the canal towpath outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. He was later convicted of murder and is serving a life sentence.

Court of Appeal president Ms Justice Caroline Costello set a date on Friday of April 23 and 24, 2026, for Puska’s appeal against his conviction to be heard. His case was one of 17 appeals listed for directions before Ms Justice Costello today.

When the matter was called on, a barrister standing in for Mr Puska’s lawyers said this matter had previously been removed from the dormant list of appeals by Mr Justice John Edwards.

He said submissions are at an advanced stage, however two judgments in cases which are relevant in this appeal are awaited from the Court of Appeal.

Ms Justice Costello said “endlessly waiting” for other cases to be dealt with was not viable. She asked how long the case was expected to take. The barrister said the matter may run into a second day.

Noting this matter dates back to November 2023, Ms Justice Costello said she was going to give the appeal a date for hearing.

“We need to start listing cases at this stage,” she said before setting a date of April 23 and 24, 2026, for Puska’s conviction appeal to be heard.

Puska, who told detectives that he stopped working in 2017 after slipping a disc in his back, has been granted legal aid for his appeal on the same basis as his representation during his trial at the Central Criminal Court, where he was allocated a solicitor, a senior counsel and two junior counsel.

Grounds for appeal

Prior to a jury being sworn to hear Puska's trial in 2023, his lawyers made a number of objections to the evidence the prosecution intended to call. The defence argued that the jury should not hear Puska's confession to gardaí two days after the stabbing.

They said that Puska was suffering the effects of abdominal surgery and was under the influence of the painkiller oxycodone, rendering his confession therefore involuntary.

They also objected to the prosecution showing CCTV footage of Puska stalking two women in Tullamore town centre before heading to the canal where he came upon Ashling Murphy, walking alone. The trial judge's decisions to allow those and other pieces of evidence to go before the jury are likely to form the bases for Puska's appeal.

Puska, aged 35, with an address at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly on January 12, 2022.