A man has been remanded in custody for a week charged with the murder of Ashling Murphy.
Jozef Puska (31), with an address at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly appeared at special sitting of Tullamore District Court on Wednesday evening.
Det Sgt David Scahill gave evidence of arrest, charged and caution and said Mr Puska replied “No” when cautioned earlier.
Inspector Kieran Keyes applied to Judge Catherine Staines for a remand in custody in Cloverhill Prison to a sitting of Cloverhill District Court on January 26th.
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The accused, wearing a grey hoodie and trousers, was assisted by a Slovakian interpreter in court.
Legal aid was granted when the court was told Mr Puska was on a disability payment. Eoin Lysaght was assigned as his solicitor.
A crowd estimated at 300 people shouted obscenities and jeered as the accused was being led into court and when he was taken away.
Ms Murphy was attacked last Wednesday at 4pm as she was exercising on the tow path of the Grand Canal at Cappincur just outside Tullamore. Her funeral took place on Tuesday.
Separately, another man in his 30s who was arrested on Wednesday as part of the murder investigation has been released without charge from Garda custody and a file will be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions..