Garda Commissioner to meet Ashling’s family in Tullamore this week
Murphys want their daughter’s phone and personal belongings held as court evidence to be returned to them
THE family of murdered school teacher Ashling Murphy are due to meet with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in their home town over the coming days, the Irish Mail on Sunday has learned.
It is understood the commissioner will travel to Tullamore in Co. Offaly to meet with the Murphy family, just over two months after killer Jozef Puska was sentenced to life for Ashling’s murder.
Among the matters likely to be discussed are the return of personal effects belonging to the much-loved 23-year-old, which have been held by gardaí since their investigation into her murder got under way.
A source said the family are particularly keen to get back Ashling’s phone, which was recovered from the scene at the Grand Canal where she was killed.
The source told the MoS: ‘This is a mark of respect, the commissioner travelling down to see this grieving family. I’ve no doubt he’ll expedite everything the family needs now, including the return of Ashling’s phone.’
The mobile phone was one of the many items shown to the court in clear plastic evidence bags during Puska’s murder trial, which concluded on November 9.
The day when Ashling’s belongings were shown to the jury was one of the most upsetting sittings of the trial for the Murphy family.
Her clothing, including a pale pink woollen hat, her green and navy GAA camogie top from her local Kilcormac-Killoughey club, as well as a heavily bloodstained white T-shirt, were taken out of the evidence bags and shown to the jury.
Other items taken from clear plastic bags in rapid succession included her scarf, which she was wearing when she was murdered, a gold-coloured ring she had on her right middle finger, and a necklace with ‘Ashling’ inscribed on it.
The family have already retrieved some of Ashling’s belongings, including the ’05registered car given to her by her deceased grandfather.
In her powerful victim impact speech at Puska’s sentencing hearing, Ashling’s sister Amy spoke about the heartbreak of getting the car back from Garda custody.
‘After a period of time following Ashling’s murder, we eventually got her car back,’ she told the packed courtroom.
‘My heart sank when I opened the front passenger door to find a half-eaten slice of toast and halfdrank mug of tea along with her handbag, teaching supplies and a hurl sitting in the front seat. All signs of a young woman preoccupied with the comings and goings of her busy, everyday life.’
Speaking outside the Criminal Courts of Justice on the day of Puska’s conviction, Ashling’s boyfriend Ryan Casey expressed his gratitude to An Garda Síochána for a ‘robust and thorough investigation’.
On the same day, a senior garda officer praised Ashling Murphy’s family. Garda Chief Superintendent Tony Lonergan said: ‘I would like to pay tribute to Ashling’s family... the courage, dignity, resilience and strength that they are showing during this ordeal has been exemplary.’
Almost all the members of the garda investigating team attended the commemorations for Ashling last week to mark the second anniversary of her death.
Puska was found guilty by unanimous verdict of murdering the primary school teacher in a random stabbing as she walked along the Grand Canal in Tullamore on January 12, 2022.
‘He’ll expedite everything the family needs now’