The young woman who was out for a run along the canal in Tullamore Co Offaly yesterday at 4pm was attacked and murdered in broad daylight.
Aisling Murphy, a 22 year old school teacher at Durrow National School, was jogging on a route, which is a well known between Bolands Lock and Digby Bridge. The stretch well used by runners, walkers as well as cyclists as it is within walking distance from the town centre. The route used by Aisling Murphy is known as Fiona’s Way. It is in memory of missing Tullamore woman Fiona Pender who disappeared in 1996.
The attacker fled the scene when two women out walking came upon the scene and attempted to stop the attack. These women were able to give a detailed description of the attacker to the Gardaí.
A man in his 40’s was arrested yesterday and is currently being held at Tullamore Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. He can be questioned for upto 24 hours.It is believed that the victim was not known by her attacker and that it was a random attack.
The man, a Romanian national, has been living in Tullamore town for a number of years before his arrest yesterday afternoon. Gardaí have said the man in custody is well known to them and has been suspected of being involved in violent incidents in the past.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who was in or around the Cappincur/Canal walk area of Tullamore around 4pm yesterday to contact them at the Garda station in Tullamore on 057 9327600 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
