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Wild scenes as man, 31, is charged with teacher's murder

Wild scenes have been filmed outside an Irish court after a man was charged with the murder of 23-year-old teacher Ashling Murphy.

Photos and video show an angry mob of locals harassing Jozef Puska, 31, on Wednesday night as he was escorted into and out of Tullamore District Court.

Dozens of people can be heard screaming obscenities at Puska as police, known as Gardai in Ireland, link their arms with his and try to push through the large crowd.

Jozef Puska, 31, is led in to Tullamore District Court where he is charged with the murder of Irish teacher Ashling Murphy who was found dead after going for a run along the Grand Canal in Tullamore. Source: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Photos and video show an angry mob of locals harassing Jozef Puska, 31, on Wednesday night. Source: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

One man hit the 31-year-old as he left the court and was shoved into a police van that began moving before the back doors were closed, forcing officers to run behind, The Times reports.

The court was told that when he was charged with the offence and cautioned, Puska replied: “No”, the Evening Standard reports.

No application for bail was made. Puska, a Slovakian national, will remain in police custody until another court hearing on January 26. His solicitor made an application for legal aid and for the services of an interpreter for the future court appearance.

The 31-year-old was arrested at Dublin Hospital on Wednesday afternoon after police renewed an appeal for information, saying “significant progress” had been made with their investigation, according to PA Media.

Jozef Puska, 31, (bottom second right grey top) is led to a police van after appearing at Tullamore District Court where he is charged with the murder of Irish teacher Ashling Murphy. Source: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Dozens of people screamed obscenities at Puska. Source: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Ms Murphy was fatally assaulted last week while going for an afternoon run along the canal bank at Cappincur, in Tullamore.

Ms Murphy was still alive when paramedics arrived at the scene and police reportedly believe she tried to fight off her attacker.

Gardai revealed earlier this week that they theorised the assailant was in the area on a bike found near the crime scene in the hours leading up to the murder.

There were reports of a man on a bike stalking another woman along the same canal just hours before the musician was killed.

Gardai said on Monday they had collected DNA samples from the crime scene, and were comparing them to a suspect who had been in hospital since the day after Ms Murphy’s murder, which has sparked calls for more to be done to tackle violence against women.

Ashling Murphy is laid to rest

The 23-year-old musician was laid to rest on Tuesday, with her funeral live-streamed online.

More than 100 people were seen paying their respects outside the church, with a smaller group of relatives and politicians gathered inside.

Ms Murphy, who was killed last week.
Ms Murphy was fatally assaulted last week while going for an afternoon run along the canal bank at Cappincur, in Tullamore. Source: RTE News

Ms Murphy’s parents, siblings and boyfriend sat in the front row, Irish Central reports.

At the end of the mass, Bishop of Meath Tom Deenihan said the last few days have been a “nightmare”.

“A depraved act of violence which deprived a kind, talented, loved, and admired young woman of her life has since united the country in grief and support,” he said, the publication reports.

Jozef Puska, 31, (second left grey hooded top) is led to a police van after appearing at Tullamore District Court where he is charged with the murder of Irish teacher Ashling Murphy. Source: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
The accused Jozef Puska tried to make his way through the rowdy crowd outside the court. Source: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

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