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19th Jan 2022

Decision to charge or release murder suspect in Ashling Murphy case will be made today

Katy Brennan

It is understood that the man has no known connection to Ashling.

The ongoing investigation into the murder of Ashling Murphy continues as Gardaí are now questioning a man who was arrested on Tuesday.

The man, who lives in Co. Offaly, is being detained at Tullamore Garda Station. He was arrested after being discharged from St James’s Hospital in Dublin yesterday morning.

The suspect, who is aged in his 30s, is currently in custody under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, which allows for him to be held and questioned for up to 24 hours. A decision whether to charge or release him will be made today.

He will be asked about his whereabouts and movements on the day of the murder and on Thursday, before he was admitted to hospital.

Garda sources have said they have a substantial amount of evidence to put to the man, including forensic, DNA and witness evidence, RTÉ reports.

Gardaí had been waiting to arrest the man upon his discharge after he presented to St James’s Hospital with suspicious injuries last week.

It is understood that the man has no known connection to Ashling and the attack is still believed to have been random.

Ashling was killed while jogging in Tullamore on Wednesday last week.

The 23-year-old was laid to rest on Tuesday. The service took place in St Brigid’s Church in Mountbolus, Co. Offaly before she was buried in Lowertown cemetery.

She was remembered as a young woman who “gave only joy and love.”

Feature Image by Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie