The family of Jozef Puska has been sentenced for their efforts to conceal his involvement in the murder of Ashling Murphy. 

In January 2022, the 23 year old primary school teacher was out for a jog in Tullamore, County Offaly when Puska stabbed her to death.  

Her death shocked the nation and Puska’s trial the following year attracted international attention. 

Ashling Murphy. Image: Facebook/Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund.

Nearly four years on since Ms Murphy’s death, the consequences of Puska’s violent actions are still unfolding. 

Not only has he lost his liberty, having been sentenced to life in prison for Ms Murphy’s murder, but now his own family are facing jail time. 

In June, Puska’s two brothers and their wives were convicted for their efforts to try to cover up his actions. 

Puska’s wife, Lucia Istokova, had pleaded guilty to the same offence before the case went to trial. 

This week, all have been sentenced.

On All Rise: The Ashling Murphy Murder Trial, Newstalk Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney explained how the family tried to help Puska get away with murder from the moment he returned home after killing Ms Murphy. 

 “He was soaking wet, he was covered in cuts from the brambles [near the crime scene] and at the time in that house in Mucklagh, he was living with his wife and their kids,” Frank explained. 

“His two brothers also lived there, Marek and Lubomir Puska, and their wives, Viera Gaziova and Jozefina Grundzova, and their kids. 

“So there were six adults and 14 kids living in that house in Mucklagh.” 

Five members of the family of Jozef Puska, the man who murdered Ashling Murphy in 2022, were jailed yesterday.

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By the time he had returned home, there was already a massive manhunt underway, with Gardaí desperate to track down the person who had killed a woman in broad daylight. 

After Puska’s arrest, Gardaí sat down to interview Istokova about the day Ms Murphy was murdered. 

“In her initial dealings with Gardaí, she didn’t say anything about her husband returning home that night to her house in Mucklagh with visible injuries,” Frank said. 

“She also didn’t reveal that he subsequently travelled to Dublin with his parents.” 

Jozef Puska of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh County Offaly is brought before a special sitting of Tullamore District Court this evening. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Gardaí also showed her a picture of a bicycle, which they believed had been ridden by the man who murdered Ms Murphy.

“She was asked if her husband owned it because that bike was found very close to the crime scene,” Frank said. 

“She said he didn’t have a bike like that, so that was clearly a lie.

“Crucially, she also failed to mention that Josef had told her that he had injured a woman with a knife.” 

Jozef Puska is seen after appearing at Tullamore District Court in January 2022. Picture by: PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo/Brian Lawless.

Gardaí also questioned Puska’s brothers, Marek and Lubomir, about what they knew about the day Ms Murphy was killed. 

Like their sister-in-law, they were not truthful in their answers. 

“They also withheld information about their brother’s whereabouts and his movements on the night in question,” Frank said. 

“Jozef had also made certain admissions to them which they didn’t disclose to Gardaí. 

“Marek was aware of a plan to burn Jozef Puska’s clothes he was wearing when he killed Ashling Murphy. 

“But again, that was something that he didn’t tell the Guards about.” 

An angry crowd gathered outside Tullamore District Court as Jozef Puska of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh County Offaly was taken into custody. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.

Puska killed Ms Murphy by stabbing her 11 times in the neck. 

Given the sustained violence of his actions, it is likely that some of her blood splattered onto his clothes. 

Had that been the case, his clothes would have been a key piece of forensic evidence that could have been used in the trial. 

The fact that they weren’t was because Puska’s sisters-in-law were instructed to burn them. 

“Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova destroyed them,” Frank said. 

“They did so by burning the clothes in the fireplace of their home in Mucklagh. 

“We don’t know when exactly they burned the clothes but it was most likely within a day or two of the murder because the house was searched two days after Ashling’s murder and there was no trace of the clothes.”

The Puska family arrive in court. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/ RollingNews.ie.

While the judge accepted this was a family decision, not one made by the women, it was nevertheless noted they did a thorough job. 

“Viera Gaziova had gathered up the ashes and washed them down the sink,” Frank said. 

“Gardaí were not able to find any trace of clothes, thereby robbing them of potential, crucial, forensic evidence.” 

Lawyers representing the two women told the court that Roma culture remains strongly patriarchal. 

It is something that the judge took into account when considering what sentences to impose on Grundzova and Gaziova. 

“Jozefina Grundzova summed it up nicely, when she told the Guards, they were told to do it, so they did it,” Frank said. 

“That was her simple explanation.” 

Both of Puska’s brothers, Marek and Lubomir, were sentenced to 30 months in prison. 

While Gaziova and Grundzova were jailed for 30 months and 27 months respectively.

Istokova, who is a mother of five, was sentenced to 26 months. 

The judge suspended the sentences of all three women for six months.

Main image: The family of Jozef Puska arriving in court. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie.