A 31-YEAR-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Ashling Murphy.
Jozef Puska (31), with an address in Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Offaly, was brought before a special sitting of Tullamore District Court this evening.
He was remanded to custody at Cloverhill District Court until 26 January.
Puska was dressed in a grey tracksuit in court. There was no reply when charged. The accused was given legal aid and a Slovakian interpreter was appointed.
A statement of means was also handed in and the court heard his primary source of income is disability benefit.
Some of Ashling’s family were already in court, holding photos of Ashling, before Puska’s arrival.
Ashling, a 23-year-old primary school teacher, was attacked along the canal bank way in Cappincur, to the east of the Co Offaly town, on Wednesday 12 January. She was laid to rest after a requiem mass yesterday.
A second man, also aged in his 30s, who was arrested today by investigating gardaí has been released without charge.
A file will be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Additional reporting by Orla Dwyer and Jane Moore.
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