Man arrested over Ashling Murphy’s killing no longer a suspect

A man held by gardaí in connection with the death of 23-year-old teacher Ashling Murphy has been released from custody and is no longer a suspect.

In a statement on Thursday night, gardaí confirmed that "the male who was arrested and detained by An Garda Síochána investigating this fatal assault has now been released from this detention.

“This male has been eliminated from Garda enquiries and is no longer a suspect.”

The man had been arrested shortly after Ms Murphy was attacked along the canal bank at Cappincur, Tullamore at about 4pm on Wednesday.

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Gardaí say they are continuing to appeal for any information relating to a Falcon Storm mountain bike with straight handlebars and distinctive yellow/green front forks.

“Gardaí continue to appeal for any person with any information on this fatal assault, who may not already have spoken to investigators, to come forward with that information,” they added.

Earlier, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee described the attack as “a woman’s worst nightmare” and said the killer would be caught. She shared people’s “anger” over the killing, which was committed in a public place “that local people felt was always safe”.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said while the murder of Ms Murphy in Tullamore, Co Offaly, had caused "real fear" across the country, such attacks were "relatively rare" and Ireland was "a safe society".

The murder investigation was continuing on Thursday night as people in Tullamore expressed their shock and anger at the killing.

Talented musician

Ms Murphy was from the townland of Blueball, Tullamore. She had previously played camogie for Offaly and was a talented musician. One of three siblings, she was from a family well known on the traditional music scene in the Midlands.

A number of vigils were due to be held on Friday afternoon at locations across the Republic, including Tullamore Town Park at 4pm, to remember Ms Murphy and to call for an end to male-on-female violence.

A National Women's Council of Ireland vigil was due to take place outside Dáil Éireann, Dublin, starting from 4pm – around the time that Ms Murphy was killed on Wednesday – for one hour. Vigils were also planned in Galway's Eyre Square at 6pm, Limerick's Arthur's Quay Park at 6pm, Belfast City Hall at 4pm, Derry's Guildhall steps at 4pm and on Saturday at 9.30am at Cork's Atlantic Pond.

Ms Murphy was killed at Boland’s Lock, Cappincur, on the Grand Canal tow path about 3km east of Tullamore at 4pm. It is understood she was beaten and strangled and suffered a wound.

Motive

The motive for the attack is unclear but gardaí believe it was random and that the killer acted alone. No evidence of a sexual assault has emerged to date.

Ms Murphy had spent the day teaching at Durrow National School just outside Tullamore, where she was the first class teacher. After finishing her work she went to exercise on the canal towpath, a regular routine for her, and was attacked there.

She was still alive when paramedics arrived but efforts to save her were not successful and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is understood two women arrived on the scene, on the opposite side of the canal. They witnessed the fatal assault and saw the attacker fleeing. They gave a description of the attacker to gardaí. In a follow-up operation on Wednesday evening the man now cleared of suspicion was arrested and had been held until late on Thursday night.

Durrow National School principal James Hogan told The Irish Times the staff had been "overwhelmed" with all of the messages they had received after Ms Murphy's murder.

“We’re highly devastated,” he said, adding Ms Murphy was a personal friend as he had grown up playing traditional music with her. “She was fantastic, a tremendous teacher and she had a shining light about her. First class idolised her, the kids are just heartbroken. There’s been a lot of tears here today.”