Latest news with #JozefPuska
BreakingNews.ie
07-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Jozef Puska's relatives accept verdict and will not appeal conviction, court hears
Jozef Puska's two brothers, who were last month convicted of withholding crucial information about the murder of school teacher Ashling Murphy, and their wives – who burned the killer's bloodstained clothes – now accept the jury's verdict and will not appeal their convictions, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Lubomir Puska Jnr (38) and Marek Puska (36), along with their wives Viera Gaziova (40) and Jozefina Grundzova (32) appeared before the court on Monday, where Ms Justice Caroline Biggs fixed a date of October 7th for sentencing in the case. Advertisement Jozef Puska (35) murdered Ms Murphy (23) on January 12th, 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. The four family members were found guilty on June 17th this year, after a jury accepted the prosecution's case that Lubomir Jnr and Marek misled gardaí by failing to disclose crucial and vital information when they gave witness statements, while their wives - Gaziova and Grundzova - burned Jozef's clothes to impede his arrest or prosecution. All the defendants had pleaded not guilty to all of the charges during the four-week trial. Lubomir Jnr however, had admitted to gardaí that he lied in his initial statement, while his wife Viera and sister-in-law Jozefina told gardaí that they had burned clothes. At the Central Criminal Court today, Karl Finnegan SC, representing Marek Puska, said his client now accepts the verdict of the jury and will not be appealing the decision. He said Marek has engaged with the Probation Services and has further meetings scheduled in the coming month. Advertisement A barrister representing Lubomir Jnr said her client also accepts the verdict of the jury and is due to meet with the Probation Services on July 9th. Damien Colgan SC, for Gaziova, said it is his understanding that in his client's case, the verdict is also accepted. He said a social worker is now involved under the auspices of another agency. He said this was going to take some time and asked for a sentence date in October. Paul Murray SC, for Grundzova, confirmed his client has met with the Probation Services. He said she also accepts the verdict. A barrister representing Lucia Istokova, Jozef Puska's wife, said her client had pleaded guilty before the commencement of the trial. Advertisement Istokova (36) had admitted to withholding information from gardaí investigating the murder after a pre-trial hearing. Ms Justice Biggs said she would extend legal aid for the purpose of preparing psychological reports for any of the defendants, if this was deemed appropriate by counsel. She said in circumstances where reports were awaited, she could either deal with matters 'in one fell swoop' or in two stages. Mr Murray told the court he thought it would be more expedient to have the matter dealt with in one day. Advertisement Ms Justice Biggs adjourned the matter to October 7th for sentence. She said at that point, she hoped to have probation reports, any potential psychological reports and any other reports that are available. It was the State's case that the two brothers misled gardaí and withheld 'crucial, relevant and significant' information when they gave voluntary interviews in Tullamore two days after Ms Murphy's death. This included information that Jozef Puska returned home on the night of the murder with visible injuries, admitted to killing or seriously injuring a woman with a knife and subsequently travelled to Dublin. All four family members were living with Jozef Puska, his wife Lucia, and 14 children at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, when the offences occurred in January 2022.
Irish Daily Mirror
07-07-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Brothers of Ashling Murphy murderer Jozef Puska 'accept jury verdict'
Jozef Puska's two brothers, who were last month convicted of withholding crucial information about the murder of school teacher Ashling Murphy, and their wives – who burned the killer's bloodstained clothes – now accept the jury's verdict and will not appeal their convictions, the Central Criminal Court has Puska Jnr (38) and Marek Puska (36), along with their wives Viera Gaziova (40) and Jozefina Grundzova (32) appeared before the court today, where Ms Justice Caroline Biggs fixed a date of October 7 for sentencing in the Puska (35) murdered Ms Murphy (23) 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 four family members were found guilty on June 17 this year, after a jury accepted the prosecution's case that Lubomir Jnr and Marek misled gardai by failing to disclose crucial and vital information when they gave witness statements, while their wives - Gaziova and Grundzova - burned Jozef's clothes to impede his arrest or the defendants had pleaded not guilty to all of the charges during the four-week trial. Lubomir Jnr however, had admitted to gardai that he lied in his initial statement, while his wife Viera and sister-in-law Jozefina told gardai that they had burned clothes. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week At the Central Criminal Court today, Karl Finnegan SC, representing Marek Puska, said his client now accepts the verdict of the jury and will not be appealing the decision. He said Marek has engaged with the Probation Services and has further meetings scheduled in the coming month.A barrister representing Lubomir Jnr said her client also accepts the verdict of the jury and is due to meet with the Probation Services on July Colgan SC, for Gaziova, said it is his understanding that in his client's case, the verdict is also accepted. He said a social worker is now involved under the auspices of another agency. He said this was going to take some time and asked for a sentence date in October. Paul Murray SC, for Grundzova, confirmed his client has met with the Probation Services. He said she also accepts the verdict.A barrister representing Lucia Istokova, Jozef Puska's wife, said her client had pleaded guilty before the commencement of the (36) had admitted to withholding information from gardai investigating the murder after a pre-trial Justice Biggs said she would extend legal aid for the purpose of preparing psychological reports for any of the defendants, if this was deemed appropriate by counsel. She said in circumstances where reports were awaited, she could either deal with matters 'in one fell swoop' or in two Murray told the court he thought it would be more expedient to have the matter dealt with in one day. Ms Justice Biggs adjourned the matter to October 7 for sentence. She said at that point, she hoped to have probation reports, any potential psychological reports and any other reports that are available. It was the State's case that the two brothers misled gardaí and withheld 'crucial, relevant and significant' information when they gave voluntary interviews in Tullamore two days after Ms Murphy's included information that Jozef Puska returned home on the night of the murder with visible injuries, admitted to killing or seriously injuring a woman with a knife and subsequently travelled to four family members were living with Jozef Puska, his wife Lucia, and 14 children at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly when the offences occurred in January 2022.
Irish Times
07-07-2025
- Irish Times
Jozef Puska's relatives now accept jury verdict and will not appeal conviction, court hears
Jozef Puska 's two brothers, who were last month convicted of withholding crucial information about the murder of Ashling Murphy , and their wives – who burned the killer's bloodstained clothes – will not appeal their convictions, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Lubomir Puska jnr (38) and Marek Puska (36), along with their wives Viera Gaziova (40) and Jozefina Grundzova (32) appeared before the court on Monday, where Ms Justice Caroline Biggs fixed a date of October 7th for sentencing in the case. Jozef Puska (35) murdered the 23-year-old school teacher on January 12th, 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. READ MORE The four family members were found guilty on June 17th this year, after a jury accepted the prosecution's case that Lubomir jnr and Marek misled gardaí by failing to disclose crucial and vital information when they gave witness statements, while Gaziova and Grundzova burned Jozef's clothes to impede his arrest or prosecution. All the defendants had pleaded not guilty to all of the charges during the four-week trial. However, Lubomir jnr had admitted to gardaí that he lied in his initial statement, while his wife Viera and sister-in-law Jozefina told investigators that they had burned clothes. At the Central Criminal Court on Monday, Karl Finnegan SC, representing Marek Puska, said his client now accepts the verdict of the jury and will not be appealing the decision. He said Marek has engaged with the Probation Services and has further meetings scheduled in the coming month. Lubomir Puska jnr (35 ) and Viera Gaziona (38) arriving at Central Criminal Court last month. Photograph: Collins Courts A barrister representing Lubomir jnr said her client also accepts the verdict of the jury and is due to meet with the Probation Services on July 9th. Damien Colgan SC, for Gaziova, said it is his understanding that in his client's case, the verdict is also accepted. He said a social worker is now involved under the auspices of another agency. He said this was going to take some time and asked for a sentence date in October. Paul Murray SC, for Grundzova, confirmed his client has met the Probation Services. He said she also accepts the verdict. A barrister representing Lucia Istokova, Jozef Puska's wife, said her client had pleaded guilty before the commencement of the trial. Istokova (36) had admitted to withholding information from gardaí investigating the murder after a pre-trial hearing. Ms Justice Biggs said she would extend legal aid for the purpose of preparing psychological reports for any of the defendants, if this was deemed appropriate by counsel. She said in circumstances where reports were awaited, she could either deal with matters 'in one fell swoop' or in two stages. Mr Murray told the court he thought it would be more expedient to have the matter dealt with in one day. Ms Justice Biggs adjourned the matter to October 7th for sentence. She said at that point, she hoped to have probation reports, any potential psychological reports and any other reports that are available. It was the State's case that the two brothers misled gardaí and withheld 'crucial, relevant and significant' information when they gave voluntary interviews in Tullamore two days after Ms Murphy's death. This included information that Jozef Puska returned home on the night of the murder with visible injuries, admitted to killing or seriously injuring a woman with a knife and subsequently travelled to Dublin. All four family members were living with Jozef Puska, his wife Lucia, and 14 children at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly when the offences occurred in January 2022.
BreakingNews.ie
03-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Ashling Murphy's boyfriend settles defamation case against the BBC
The partner of murdered school teacher Ashling Murphy has settled a High Court action for alleged defamation against the BBC. Ryan Casey sued the BBC following the broadcast of an episode of the political programme The View on November 30th, 2023. Advertisement The programme was broadcast nearly two weeks after Mr Casey had delivered a victim impact statement at the sentence hearing of Jozef Puska for the murder of Ms Murphy. In a statement released after the High Court settlement on Thursday Mr Casey said the resolution of the case marked "the end of a long and difficult chapter." He said it was never about him, but was about truth, fairness and decency. The BBC said it was "happy to clarify" that it does not consider Mr Casey to be "someone guilty of or attempting to incite hatred". Advertisement Mr Casey had taken the case in relation to a BBC Northern Ireland broadcast of 'The View' programme in November 2023, relating to Mr Casey's victim impact statement at the sentencing of Ms Murphy's murderer Josef Puska. At the High Court Alan Keating SC, for the BBC, read out a statement on the settlement of the case on behalf of the broadcaster. "In the BBC's November 30th, 2023 episode of its live political programme 'The View', Mr Ryan Casey's victim impact statement at the sentencing of his late partner's murderer was discussed. "The BBC stands by the journalism involved in this episode which debated serious issues of public interest. Advertisement "The BBC is happy to clarify that it does not consider Ryan Casey to be a criminal or a racist or someone guilty of or attempting to incite hatred, or someone seeking to pose as a hero of the Far Right through his victim impact statement. "The BBC acknowledges Mr Casey's personal tragedy. This statement clarifies any unintentional inferences that could have been drawn from the broadcast and has enabled the BBC and Ryan Casey to resolve this matter amicably," the statement read. It is understood the settlement is a six-figure sum. Mr Justice Alexander Owens then struck out the case and made no order. Advertisement Jozef Puska (35) murdered Ms Murphy (23) on January 12th, 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. Originally from Slovakia, he had lived in Offaly since 2015 with his wife and five children. At his trial he claimed she had been killed by a masked man who had also attacked him. But the jury found him guilty of murder. Ireland Josef Puska's two brothers and their wives guilty... Read More Outside court Mr Casey said he took the legal action against the BBC not solely out of anger, but out of a need for accountability and dignity for Ashling, for himself, their families and for all victims, who he said deserved to have their voices heard without such harsh criticism or judgement. Advertisement He said he hoped it would be a reminder to all media organisations of the high level of responsibility that came with running such public platforms. He said he was now finally free to use his voice again to honour Ashling, and, he said, advocate for the changes desperately required in this country. He said he wanted everyone to honour Ashling by building a better and safer Ireland.
Irish Times
17-06-2025
- Irish Times
‘Make sure those clothes are burnt': How relatives aided Ashling Murphy killer Jozef Puska
Jozef Puska was soaking wet, ashen-faced, shaking with cold and covered in scratches and bruises when he arrived home about six hours after he had stabbed 23-year-old schoolteacher Ashling Murphy to death. By then, Ashling's violent killing led every news bulletin and flashed across social media. Another man, entirely innocent as it would later become clear, was in a Garda station being questioned on suspicion of her murder. It was obvious to the adults in the Puska household that Jozef (then 31, now 35) had been involved in something terrible. Much of the detail of how Jozef Puska murdered Ashling Murphy came out during his trial in 2023. The trial of his brothers Marek (36) and Lubomir jnr (38), and their wives Jozefina Grundzova (32) and Viera Gaziova (40), over the past few weeks gave insights into the Puskas' lives. Their statements, made in the days after the murder, give further detail of how the killer, his brothers and their wives tried to thwart the Garda investigation. READ MORE On Tuesday, a jury by unanimous verdict found Marek and Lubomir jnr guilty of withholding crucial information from investigating gardaí. Jozefina and Viera were found guilty by majority verdict of burning the killer's bloodstained clothes in an effort to obstruct his prosecution. All of them had pleaded not guilty to all charges. In a voluntary statement two days after Jozef Puska killed Ms Murphy, Marek Puska gave details of the family's background, of their moving from Slovakia to Czechia and finally to Ireland. Jozef arrived in Ireland in 2013 and lived in several places before, in 2020, securing a four-bedroom house in Lynally Grove in Mucklagh, Co Offaly, near Tullamore, with his partner Lucia Istokova and their five children. Soon Marek and Jozefina moved in with their six children and Lubomir jnr and Viera with their three. Marek spoke in glowing terms of their life together in Mucklagh. 'We don't feel alive without each other, we're so close,' he said. None of the three men was working. They spent their days sleeping, drinking coffee or beer and going into Tullamore by bike, car or taxi. Marek Puska and Jozefina Grundzova arrive at Central Criminal Court in Dublin during their trial last month. Photograph: Collins Courts Lubomir Puska and Viera Gaziona at the Central Criminal Court. Photograph: Collins Courts 'It was the golden times, the best of times. I swear to God, everyone says they don't see a family like this getting on. We sit and talk and don't argue. Any problems, we talk about it,' said Marek. He said they solved financial problems among themselves and the 'kids are at the top of everything and get everything'. Jozef he described as the 'go-to man' who would help everyone. On January 12th, 2022, Marek said he got up at around 12.30pm, 'the same as every day'. Lubomir jnr, the only person in the house with a car, had earlier taken the children to school, and at 11.30am brought Viera to the dentist in Tullamore. Lubomir jnr would tell gardaí that Jozef declined to go with them because Lucia was cooking scrambled eggs for him. About 30 minutes before Marek got up, Jozef finished his breakfast, drank a cup of coffee and left on his bicycle. Lucia told Marek she didn't know where Jozef had gone and that he had left his phone behind. 'I wanted to be with him,' Marek said, so he went to Tullamore to search for his brother. He said he tried a local casino and other regular haunts where people would know Jozef, but nobody had seen him. Marek returned home but left again, this time with Lubomir jnr, to continue the search. By now concerned about his whereabouts, they checked the emergency department at the hospital. When that turned up nothing, they reported Jozef missing at Tullamore Garda station. It was shortly after 5pm. By now, gardaí in Tullamore were focused on the inexplicable and brutal murder of Ashling Murphy, which had happened at about 3.30pm. Two women out running at Cappincur alerted gardaí after they stumbled across a man attacking Ashling in the briars on the steep bank by the canal towpath. Gardaí arrived within minutes but Jozef Puska had already escaped and there was no chance of saving the young teacher, who had suffered multiple, fatal stab wounds to her neck. Jozef Puska would spend the hours after the attack scrambling through thick briars and into a nearby field, then walking to the N52 and into Tullamore. Shortly after 9pm, he knocked on the door of Rostislav Pokuta, an acquaintance who drove a localschool bus. Pokuta was surprised to see Jozef Puska, who was soaking wet, white in the face and frightened looking. Jozef did not want to talk, other than to say he had been beaten up and to beg for a lift home. Pokuta agreed. In his original statement, Marek Puska did not mention seeing Jozef that night. Four days later he told gardaí he had more to say. Under caution, he said he and Lubomir jnr had been in Tullamore looking for Jozef, when Lubomir jnr got a call saying Jozef was at home and 'in a poor state, beaten up'. After his arrest on January 26th, Marek gave further details. By the time he got home, he said, he was crying because he is sensitive about his brother. He and Lubomir jnr went into Jozef's room and closed the door. The accounts given by Jozef Puska of what had happened were described as 'obvious nonsense' and 'garbled lies' by barristers in the trial. Marek told gardaí that Jozef claimed he was trying to take his own life by stabbing himself in the stomach when a woman came upon him and tried to pull the knife away. Recalling the same story multiple times, Marek gave differing accounts of what Jozef had said. Members of Jozef Puska's family (all with back to camera and hoods) enter a side door of Tullamome courthouse in December 2023. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins In one, he had Jozef in pain on the ground with holes in his abdomen when the woman grabbed his hand and tried to drag it away before he 'cut her ... around the neck area'. In another account, he said Jozef 'struck out and cut her' but said the latter couldn't remember what else he had done. Jozef knew it was 'probably bad' but then didn't want to talk about it any more. In another account, he said Jozef told him he 'cut her with a knife' while they were 'fighting on the ground'. [ Who is Jozef Puska? From anonymous father-of-five to notorious killer Opens in new window ] Marek, crying, told his wife Jozefina that Jozef had 'hurt this woman' and that he 'must have killed her'. Somebody contacted Jozef's parents, who travelled to Mucklagh. Viera Gaziova would later tell gardaí that Jozef's mother was 'visibly afraid' and demanded to know who had beaten up her son. She begged Jozef to go with her back to Dublin. He went with his parents. With Jozef gone to Dublin, the family in Lynally Grove discussed what they had heard while Lubomir jnr poured shots of vodka for everyone. Each would tell gardaí they didn't believe the various accounts that Jozef had stabbed or cut or killed a woman. Viera spoke to gardaí on January 17th and 18th. By then the family had been moved to the Central Hotel in Tullamore. Gardaí wore plain clothes and were careful not to draw attention to the family at the centre of a national outcry. Viera said Jozef had scratches on his face and was 'shaking uncontrollably' when he arrived home on the night of the murder. She said that Lubomir jnr and Lucia went to Dublin the following day, but that Jozef had been admitted to St James's Hospital for surgery on stab wounds to his abdomen. While Jozef convalesced, Viera said Lubomir jnr called her using Facebook Messenger to say that Jozef had asked him to 'make sure that those clothes are burnt'. She knew what he meant. Jozef had left his wet clothes in a bundle on the bathroom floor and Viera had taken them to the kitchen and placed them beside the bin. She said she waited until the following morning after the children had gone to school. She lit the fire using paper and briquettes and let it burn for about an hour, until it was 'very strong'. She took the clothes out of the bag, starting with the tracksuit top and T-shirt, which were stuck together as though Jozef had taken them off in one go. [ Murder of Ashling Murphy 'a monstrous crime that shocked the nation', senior garda says Opens in new window ] Jozefina, who helped by burning the socks, would tell gardaí that she noticed 'blood around the lower half of the T-shirt.' When gardaí asked Viera why she had 'misled the investigation' by failing to mention in her previous statement that she had destroyed evidence, she said: 'We were afraid of the guards when they came. Nothing like this ever happened before. I was afraid I would end up on the street with my children. I was shaking. I didn't want to say because I was afraid the whole family would go against me.'
