Jury Convicts Jozef Puska’s Brothers And Their Wives Over Role In Ashling Murphy Case

Tuesday, 17 June 2025 16:52

By Martin Osborne

After five long days considering the evidence, the jury returned with their first two verdicts after 13 hours and 40 minutes of deliberations.

Jozef Puska’s brothers, Marek and Lubomir, have been found guilty of withholding information from gardai during the investigation into Ashling Murphy’s murder.

Their wives have also been convicted of assisting their brother-in-law, by burning the clothes he was wearing when he murdered the 23-year-old schoolteacher in 2022.

After five long days considering the evidence, the jury returned with their first two verdicts after 13 hours and 40 minutes of deliberations.

All twelve of them convicted Jozef Puska’s brothers, Marek and Lubomir, of withholding crucial information during their initial interactions with gardai in the days after Ashling Murphy was murdered along the Grand Canal in Tullamore.

Both claimed they had reasonable excuses for not disclosing the information, which included his movements and appearance that evening, but the jury rejected their defence.

Shortly after those verdicts were delivered, Marek and Lubomir’s wives, Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gazoiva, were found guilty of assisting him by burning the clothes he was wearing when he killed Ms Murphy.

At the outset of this trial, Jozef Puska’s wife, Lucia Istokova, pleaded guilty to a charge of withholding information – something that couldn’t be reported until after the jury’s work was complete.

Their sentence hearing will take place at a later date.