Tributes were yesterday paid to murdered primary school teacher Ashling Murphy on what would have been her 26th birthday.
The 23-year-old was attacked and stabbed to death by Slovakian native Jozef Puska as she jogged along the canal on January 12, 2022. Shockwaves at the violent and random attack on talented musician Ashling sparked national protests calling out gender violence.
The charity set up in her memory, the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund, remembered the young Co Offaly woman yesterday and pointed to her legacy.
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In a poignant social media post it simply stated: “Her memory remains with us and her legacy lives on.” Proceeds from numerous fundraisers are used to achieve the memorial fund’s objectives which include an annual bursary.
The statement continued: “Today we remember the life of Ashling on her 26th birthday – her third heavenly birthday away from those she loved and whom loved her so dearly.
“Though Ashling may be no longer with us, her memory remains with us and her legacy lives on through the countless lives she touched in her short life and will continue to touch in the future.
“We remember Ashling for her love of music, her dedication to teaching and learning, her kindness, her generosity of spirit and radiant smile.
“Though she may be gone, there is comfort in knowing that her legacy will continue to inspire and uplift many for years to come.”
Evil Puska, 33, was jailed for life after a jury found him guilty of Ashling’s murder. He had lied that he too was attacked that day, and lay injured in long grass on the canal bank for hours before leaving the scene. The dad-of-five has now launched an appeal against his conviction.
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