Properties examined as Gardai identify person of interest

Gardai have been examining a property in Offaly as part of the investigation into the murder of Ashling Murphy in Tullamore on Wednesday.

The development comes in the wake of a new person of interest in the case having been identified by Gardai.

It’s understood the individual is currently in hospital and Gardai are waiting to interview him.

Along with the search of the property in Offaly, another examination was underway at a property in Dublin.

Central to the ongoing investigation is a bicycle, images of which have been shared by Gardai on a number of occasions in recent days.

In a statement on Friday, An Garda Siochana said “significant progress” had been made in the investigation. They said they would not be providing specific details for operational reasons but renewed the appeal for any information on a Falcon Storm mountain bike with straight handlebars and distinctive yellow/green front forks.

RTE today reported that another woman has told Garda she felt she was being followed by a man on a bicycle when she used the walkway alongside the canal in Tullamore earlier on Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, throughout today (Saturday), there was a heavy Garda presence in the Tullamore area, with officers mounting checkpoints and continuing enquiries locally.

Speaking on The Late Late Show last night, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said there needed to be a cultural change.

“It has to happen not just at Government level, it is for lead agencies, to people, to families and community, we have to call out the undermining of women and any violence, of course, but beneath the layer of violence, the whole culture of misogyny, a culture of absence of parity of esteem,” he added.

He said whilst the vast majority of men are repulsed by these attitudes to women, he said he though men need to listen more to women.

“We need to listen more to what women are saying to us. And sometimes we don’t do that in a good enough fashion. So listening is the first step.

“But I think men want to step up to the plate and make sure we can create a different kind of society where people do feel safe, and where we can transform the culture that underpins bad behaviour and violence towards women,” he said.