Man accused of murdering Offaly school teacher Ashling Murphy has legal aid extended

A 31-year-old man accused of murdering school teacher Ashling Murphy in Tullamore has had his legal aid extended so his defence team can obtain expert reports from the UK.

Jozef Puska, of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, is charged with murdering the 23-year-old primary school teacher at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on the afternoon of January 12, 2022.

He is scheduled to go on trial at the Central Criminal Court on June 6 this year and the case is expected to last between three and four weeks.    

At a brief hearing on Wednesday, senior counsel Michael Bowman, defending Mr Puska, said the case was listed for mention to extend his client's legal aid to cover expert reports from the UK.

"We listed it so that there was no delay in the preparation of material," he added. 

Mr Justice Paul McDermott said he would grant the legal aid cert to cover the request but added that he did not know if the defence would have to go through the public procurement process.