Category Archives: Inter-disciplinary Analysis – Case Studies

Ashling Murphy was fatally stabbed on the banks of the
Grand Canal in Tullamore on the 12th of January 2022. A
large number of FSI staff contributed to efforts to assist
this murder investigation. Their contribution included
urgent and out of hours work to perform forensic DNA
and Fingerprint analyses on a large number of exhibits.
These analyses provided significant findings including a
male specific DNA profile (Y-DNA profile) match between
Jozef Puska and samples from Ashling Murphy’s
fingernails. In addition, DNA and fingerprint matches
were obtained between Jozef Puska and a bicycle left
at the scene. On the 9th of November 2023, following
a three-week trial at the Central Criminal Court, Jozef
Puska was found guilty of the murder of Ashling Murphy.
Two current FSI scientists, a seconded Garda Member
and a retired FSI scientist presented significant forensic
findings at this murder trial.