All Rise: The Ashling Murphy Murder Trial

Yesterday, the jury found Riad Bouchaker guilty on all counts.   He’ll be sentenced on a later date but in this episode, Frank and Aisling are joined by two of the other court reporters who have been covering this trial: Deborah Naylor, Courts Correspondent with Virgin Media News, and Eoin Reynolds, Court Reporter at Ireland International News Agency. In this extended episode, they pore...

Four hours and forty-two minutes – that’s how long it took the jury to make their minds up.  And they found Riad Bouchaker guilty on all counts.

The jury is out.   After weeks of evidence, the nine men and three women began their deliberations this afternoon. The judge asked them to approach their task “logically and forensically” and to leave emotion or sympathy at the door.

The jury heard closing speeches today – a final chance for both the prosecution and defence to address them. Alternative verdicts will be open to them in relation to certain charges and the issue of intention will be a key element for them to consider in their deliberations. 

The prosecution’s final witnesses were called today, including a forensic scientist who examined the knife Riad Bouchaker is alleged to have used. The jurors also heard medical evidence from the doctors who treated Leanne Flynn and the most seriously injured child – a 5 year old girl. 

Today, the jury watched Riad Bouchaker’s final garda interview, during which he was confronted with more CCTV footage and some forensic evidence. He was told about the injuries suffered by the children and childcare worker Leanne Flynn, and it was put to him that he was in his full mind when he attacked them.

Today, the jury watched more Garda interviews with Riad Bouchaker. They heard him repeatedly claim he wasn’t in his right mind on the day of the alleged attack.  He said the decision to refuse him social welfare made him mad and go into ‘blackout’. He also repeatedly expressed his relief and gratitude that nobody died.  

Today, the jury was shown a video recording of Riad Bouchaker’s first interview with gardai.  Throughout the interview, he repeatedly asks the detectives questioning him if they know that he’s sick. And at one point, he tells them he forgets “everything.” 

Day eight revealed more details about the emergency response to the attack and the garda investigation that followed.  The jurors also heard from another eyewitness who described seeing the alleged stabbing of Leanne Flynn. And the jury was shown the suspected weapon – a black handled carving knife.

Today, the jurors heard from firefighters, advanced paramedics and a detective who were among the first emergency responders to arrive at Parnell Square East.  Their evidence spoke to the chaotic scenes that confronted them and the efforts to save the little girl. The jury was also shown some of the items recovered from Riad Bouchaker.

Day six of the trial heard from the first responders who arrived at the scene of the alleged knife attack.  An experienced consultant said he’d never seen anything like it. The first paramedic to treat the most seriously injured child took the stand; as well as a doctor who rushed to the scene when she heard what had happened. There was also more eyewitness testimony, including from the man w...

Day Five of the trial heard from more eyewitnesses who gave accounts of the alleged attack, including a cyclist who hit the accused with a bike lock, and a man who knocked him to the ground with a punch to the face.  A chef described sprinting across the road after seeing a child being stabbed, and a couple visiting Dublin that day described how an otherwise pleasant afternoon turned into any...

Day four of the trial heard from the care worker, Leanne Flynn, who Riad Bouchaker is accused of causing serious harm to.  They also heard from a man who was passing by as it all began to unfold, and a Deliveroo driver, Caio Benicio, who gave evidence of hitting Riad Bouchaker in the head with his motorbike helmet.

Day three of the Riad Bouchaker trial concluded with the evidence of a woman who described what she saw in the immediate aftermath of the Parnell Square attack.  Before that, the jurors were shown exhibits recovered from the scene, including two bloodstained jackets and a photo of a knife found in the area. There was also some evidence of a man in the area beforehand looking for a school.

Today, the jury was shown CCTV footage from the alleged attack on 23rd November 2023. The montage was compiled by gardaí, and contained footage from the hours leading up to the attack, as well as the incident itself. The jury also heard from another mother of one of the alleged victims.

The jury was back today for the opening of the case. They were given a broad overview of what’s alleged to have happened and they also heard from the parents of some of the alleged victims.

The trial of Riad Bouchaker got underway today with jury selection. Nine men and three women were sworn in, and the judge gave some details about the accused and how the running of this trial will differ slightly to others because of his circumstances.

Starting Monday 8 June 2026, this is a daily podcast covering the trial proceedings for Riad Bouchaker who was charged with eight offences relating to an alleged knife attack on Parnell Square in Dublin city on the 23rd of November 2023. Among those charges are the attempted murder of three children - two girls and a boy. Episodes will be released each evening while the trial is underway.

Five members of Jozef Puska's family have been sentenced for their roles in trying to cover up his murder of 23-year-old school teacher, Ashling Murphy. She was brutally murdered along the banks of the Grand Canal in January 2022. His wife, Lucia, pleaded guilty just before the trial began, while his two brothers and their wives were found guilty by a jury in June 2025. Each of them received a cus...

This is a special episode of Newstalk's podcast series All Rise, focusing on the trial of four members of Jozef Puska's family In November 2023, Jozef Puska was found guilty of murdering 23  year old schoolteacher Ashling Murphy in a brutal, unprovoked attack that shocked the nation. 18 months later, his brothers and their wives stood trial for various offences arising from the murder investi...

Jozef Puska was today handed a life sentence for the murder of Ashling Murphy. In this episode, we’ll bring you the incredibly powerful and emotional victim impact statements delivered by Ashling’s family at today’s hearing. We’ll also discuss the remarks of the judge in relation to the sentencing regime for convicted murderers in Ireland. And we’ll hear from one of the country’s most senior garda...

In this extended episode, Deborah Naylor, Courts Correspondent with Virgin Media News; and Eoin Reynolds, Courts Reporter with Courts News Ireland, join us to discuss what the jury didn’t hear during the trial. And with Jozef Puska now a convicted murderer, we speak more freely about our opinions on the evidence, and we also have a chat about Ashling’s legacy.

Jozef Puska has been found guilty of murdering Ashling Murphy. The jury deliberated for over two hours, but returned to Court 13 soon after 2pm when their foreman delivered the guilty verdict. Mr Justice Tony Hunt added his own remarks, saying he agreed with their outcome, and added “we have evil in this room”. In this episode, Frank and Aisling will take you through what happened in everything in...

The jury in the Ashling Murphy murder trial has begun its deliberations. In his charge to the jury this afternoon, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said if they’re to convict Jozef Puska of murder – they must be satisfied he stabbed Ashling Murphy 11 times in the neck. Mr Justice Hunt said if they’re satisfied that no crime has been committed by Mr Puska, they must find him not guilty. 33-year-old Jozef Puska...

Today, the jury in the Ashling Murphy murder trial was told Jozef Puska has provided an ‘unequivocal structure of lies and mistruths’. However, the defence has told jurors that they must be ‘very careful’ in assessing the evidence provided to them in this case  Later this afternoon, Mr Justice Tony Hunt told the jurors that if they believe Jozef Puska’s version of events - that he was attacke...