Gardaí say 'no stone will be left unturned' in Ashling Murphy murder investigation

Young teacher was out running by canal in Tullamore in afternoon when she was fatally attacked              

A man who killed Ashling Murphy on a canal towpath in Co Offaly on Wednesday was disturbed during the fatal attack by another woman who arrived on the scene. The dead woman had been out for a run just outside Tullamore when she was fatally attacked on Wednesday afternoon.

Ms Murphy, who was 23, was well known in Tullamore because she worked as a primary school teacher. She was also involved in the arts and had performed in public for many years. Her family is from just outside Tullamore. A murder investigation has been launched.

At a press briefing at Digby Bridge on Thursday morning, Supt Eamonn Curley appealed for witnesses who may have seen anyone behaving unusually in the area along the Grand Canal on Wednesday afternoon between 3pm and 5pm to come forward.

“Any information you have, however insignificant you feel it may be, we need to hear from you.

“No stone will be left unturned in bringing the perpetrator of this crime to justice.”

Supt Curley said that over 50 gardaí and personnel from national specialist units, including the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, have been assigned to the investigation.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends and colleagues and her pupils who are without their teacher this morning.”

He said personnel from the family liasion unit were providing ongoing support to her family.

The scene remains sealed off for technical examination of the scene.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee expressed her shock at the killing, urging anyone with information that could help solve the crime to come forward immediately.