The monster who murdered Ashling Murphy has started attending music classes behind bars – in yet another insult to the young teacher’s memory.

The Irish Mirror has learned that evil killer Jozef Puska signed up for music lessons, where he can avail of the likes of the guitar and keyboard several days of the week inside the Midlands Prison.

The revelation comes as the family and friends of the talented young woman gathered to remember her in an emotional walk along the Grand Canal Way in Cappincur, near Tullamore, Co Offaly, where she was so callously murdered on that day four years ago.

Jozef Puska (top right) was found guilty of murdering Ashling Murphy in Tullamore

Ashling’s devastated parents, other family members and her partner Ryan Casey all marked her memory in an emotional service on Sunday and Monday, as they mark four years since Puska randomly targeted her while she was out for a run along the canal on January 12, 2022.

We previously revealed how Puska, who is serving a life sentence for murder, was enjoying a somewhat cushy existence behind bars, where he was learning how to speak English, much to the anger of Ashling’s loved ones. Now it has emerged that the Slovakian native has taken up music and art classes, as he desperately tries to occupy himself on the E wing of the Midlands Prison.

Jozef Puska

View 3 Images

Jozef Puska(Image: Irish Mirror)

The wing is known to house mostly sex offenders – and Puska, who is one of the most well known prisoners in the prison estate, was housed there for his own safety.

Ashling was herself a schoolteacher and well known local musician – who not only was a talented fiddle player, but taught many others how to play. On Monday afternoon a large crowd gathered around the family of the young woman in an event that was organised by the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund – an incredible charity which they founded. Her love of music was remembered by a number of people who brought instruments and played next to the beautiful shine at the site where she was murdered.

Ashling’s heartbroken boyfriend Ryan Casey issued a heart-wrenching tribute to her on Monday, as he and others marked four years since her murder. Taking to social media Mr Casey posted: “One of the hardest things we all have to do in life is to try and turn the page to the next chapter, knowing that someone who meant so much to you won’t be in it.

View 3 Images

Ashling Murphy. (Image: PA)

“You made me the man that I am today and you will always be my moral compass! Rest in Peace Ash.” His tribute comes as the family of the 23-year-old stated that she was “dearly missed” and despite another year passing, she remains “forever close in our hearts”.

In a post on the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund, the family wrote: “Today we remember our beloved Ashling, on her 4th anniversary, who is so dearly missed each and every day, especially by her heartbroken family and wide circle of friends. Another year has passed without you, but you remain forever close in our hearts”.

The Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund was established by her family to raise funds for causes she believed in. The tributes followed a mass celebrating the young woman’s life took place in St.Brigid’s Church in Mountbolus on Sunday.

Speaking to this paper in an exclusive podcast interview last year, Ryan Casey told of his anger that Ashling’s Puska could be released in just 20 years time. “The average has come up a little bit in recent years but the average is 21 years. That’s crazy. That’s not life. I know our prisons are places of reform but there has to be categories to it,” he said.

“It has to depend on the nature of the crime, like this is crazy stuff, 21 years time. I’m only 27. That guy, given our current system, is going to be out and I’m going to be touching late 40s. “It’s all talk and very little action. I’m not a politician, I’m not a barrister or a State legislator but how is that a hard piece of legislation to pass and bring in and run through the Dail? “I don’t think anyone would have any argument with it,” he said.