Ashling Murphy: Irish police arrest man on suspicion of murder
A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of murder over the death of Ashling Murphy in Ireland.
The 23-year-old, a talented musician and primary school teacher, was found dead on 12 January after going for a run on the banks of the Grand Canal in Tullamore, Co Offaly.
Irish police said a man, aged in his 30s, was being questioned in Tullamore garda station on Tuesday.
It came just hours after hundreds of people gathered in the village of Mountbolus and outside St Brigid’s Church, where Ms Murphy’s funeral mass was being held.
Symbols of the teacher’s life were brought to the altar during her funeral, including a fiddle, a Kilcormac/Killoughey camogie jersey, a family picture, a school book and her photo.
Ms Murphy’s boyfriend, Ryan Casey, described her as a “shining light” who was always willing to help others and put herself last.
He said: “It is simply not possible to explain what Ashling meant to myself, her family, friends.
“All I’d like to say in this moment and time is that Ashling was our shining light. She loves her mum Kathleen, her father Ray, her big sister Amy and big brother Cathal and all of her family and friends so much.
“She was always there, always willing to help anybody, anywhere, at any time, and always put herself last.
“She had so many talents which combined made her an incredibly loving and beautiful person. We were all so lucky to know and love and spend as much time with her as possible.
“She is the greatest love of my life. I will cherish the last five years we spent together for my entire life. I hope that someday, God willing, we can be reunited once more and continue the great plans we had made for each other.”
Ireland’s president Michael D Higgins and premier Micheal Martin were among the mourners at the funeral.
Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina hugged the family of Ms Murphy at the funeral mass.
Her death has intensified the debate around women’s safety and prompted calls for more to be done to tackle gender-based violence.
Additional reporting by Press Association
