The monster who killed Ashling Murphy has reportedly begun attending music classes while in prison, in what many see as another affront to the memory of the young teacher.
The Irish Mirror has learned that convicted murderer Jozef Puska has enrolled in music lessons, giving him access to instruments such as guitars and keyboards several days a week inside Midlands Prison, reports The Mirror.
The development comes as Ashling’s family and friends came together to honour her memory during an emotional walk along the Grand Canal Way in Cappincur, near Tullamore, Co Offaly, the location where she was brutally murdered four years ago.
Ashling’s grieving parents, extended family and her partner Ryan Casey gathered for moving commemorations on Sunday and Monday, marking four years since Puska randomly attacked her as she jogged along the canal on January 12, 2022, reports The Mirror.
It was previously revealed how Puska, who is serving a life sentence for murder, was living a relatively comfortable life behind bars, including learning to speak English, a revelation that angered Ashling’s loved ones. It has now emerged that the Slovak national has also taken up music and art classes as he attempts to pass the time on the E wing of Midlands Prison.
This particular wing is understood to mainly house sex offenders, and Puska — one of the most notorious inmates in the prison system — was placed there for his own protection, reports The Mirror.
Ashling herself was a schoolteacher and a well-known local musician who not only excelled at playing the fiddle but also taught many others. On Monday afternoon, a large crowd gathered with her family at an event organised by the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund, a charity established in her honour. Her passion for music was reflected as people brought instruments and played beside the beautiful shrine at the site of her murder.
Ashling’s devastated partner Ryan Casey shared a deeply emotional tribute on Monday as he and others marked the fourth anniversary of her death. Writing on social media, Mr Casey said: “One of the hardest things we all have to do in life is to try and turn the page to the next chapter, knowing that someone who meant so much to you won’t be in it, reports The Mirror.
“You made me the man that I am today and you will always be my moral compass! Rest in Peace Ash,” he wrote. His words came as the family of the 23-year-old said she was “dearly missed” and that, despite another year passing, she remains “forever close in our hearts”, reports The Mirror.
In a message shared by the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund, the family said: “Today we remember our beloved Ashling, on her 4th anniversary, who is so dearly missed each and every day, especially by her heartbroken family and wide circle of friends. Another year has passed without you, but you remain forever close in our hearts”.
The Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund was created by her family to support causes Ashling cared deeply about. The tributes followed a Mass celebrating her life, which was held in St Brigid’s Church in Mountbolus on Sunday, reports The Mirror.
Speaking in an exclusive podcast interview last year, Ryan Casey spoke of his anger over the possibility that Puska could be released in around 20 years. “The average has come up a little bit in recent years but the average is 21 years. That’s crazy. That’s not life. I know our prisons are places of reform but there has to be categories to it,” he said.
“It has to depend on the nature of the crime, like this is crazy stuff, 21 years time. I’m only 27. That guy, given our current system, is going to be out and I’m going to be touching late 40s. It’s all talk and very little action. I’m not a politician, I’m not a barrister or a State legislator but how is that a hard piece of legislation to pass and bring in and run through the Dail? I don’t think anyone would have any argument with it,” he said, reports The Mirror.
When asked whether he felt let down by then justice minister Helen McEntee and the Government, Ryan replied: “Yeah absolutely. We all do. The justice system let us down. When you’re promised the change will come in the time before that trial, don’t make that promise if you can’t meet it.
“That’s infuriating to know that he was sentenced then to life and for Tony Hunt to make those comments. It’s even more infuriating because it just highlights the fact that they didn’t even try. They done nothing. And it can’t be done retrospectively,” he said, reports The Mirror.
The heartbroken young man also spoke about the traumatic moment he received a phone call informing him that something terrible had happened to the love of his life on the afternoon of January 12, 2022. He last saw Ashling in person on January 10 — a moment that remains painfully etched in his memory after they chose not to touch due to Covid restrictions.
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