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Jozef Puska partner and brothers to stand trial for withholding information in Ashling Murphy murder

The brothers’ two partners were also sent forward for trial for impeding the investigation

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Brother of Ashling Murphy’s killer charged with withholding information about teacher’s death

The partner and two brothers of the killer of Offaly teacher Ashling Murphy have been sent forward for trial on charges of withholding information into the murder.

The brothers’ two partners were also sent forward for trial for impeding the investigation.

Jozef Puska’s brothers Marek (34) and Lubomir (35), as well as Puska’s partner Lucia Istokova (34), are charged with failing to disclose information between January 12 and 27 last year at Tullamore Garda Station that may have been of material assistance in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of Jozef Puska for the murder of Ms Murphy contrary to Section 9 of the Offences Against the State Act.

Marek Puska’s partner Jozefina Grundzova (33) and Lubomir Puska’s partner Viera Gazoiva (38) are charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef Puska while knowing or believing that he was guilty of the murder of Ms Murphy, or of some other arrestable offence, contrary to Sections 7 and 4 of the Criminal Law Act.

They appeared at Tullamore District Court before Judge Andrew Cody where books of evidence were served on them and they were sent forward for trial at the Central Criminal Court under applications made by Garda Stacey O’Brien.

Applications were made by their solicitor, David Powderly, for legal aid and a continuation of their bail conditions.

He also requested that a previous restriction on reporting the addresses of the five accused be continued.

Judge Cody granted the applications in the hearing, which lasted around 10 minutes.

All five accused arrived at Tullamore courthouse in a black people-carrier taxi and ran from it to a side door of the court while covering their faces.

None of them spoke during the hearing, but listened patiently to an interpreter who relayed the proceedings to them.

They left the court afterwards in the same taxi, rushing into it while concealing their identities before being driven away.