All Rise: The Riad Bouchaker Trial
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
Episode 18: The Monster Who Stole Their Innocence
It has been over three months since Riad Bouchaker was found guilty of all charges arising from the Parnell Square knife attack, and everyone was back in court today for his sentence hearing. His defence put forward their pleas in mitigation, and we also heard from some of the victims, and their families.
Episode 17: Unsung Heroes
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 ov
Episode 16: Verdicts
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.
Episode 15: Cold and Clinical
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.
Episode 14: Vengeance Has No Place Here
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.
Episode 13: Lifelong and life-limiting
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.
Episode 12: A Dropped Pin
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.
Episode 11: If Only They Helped Me
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.
Episode 10: I Didn’t Want to Kill
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.”
Episode 9: I Thought She Was Dead
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.
Episode 8: Screaming in Pain
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.
Episode 7: Pulseless
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 who
Episode 6: He Had to be Put Down
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 anyt
Episode 5: Fight Mode
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.
Episode 4: The Street was Chaos
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.
Episode 3: The Suspect's Movements
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.
Episode 2: Pink Shoes
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.
Episode 1: Jury Selection
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.
All Rise returns
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.
Episode 22: The Puska Family Sentencing
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 cust
Episode 21: The Puska Family Trial
This is a special episode of Newstalk's podcast series All Rise, focusing on the trial of four members of Jozef Puska's familyIn 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 investiga
Episode 20: One in a Million
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 gardaí,
Episode 19: What the Jury Didn't Hear
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.
Episode 18: Guilty
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
Episode 17: The Jury is Out
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,
Episode 16: Closing Speeches
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 attacked
Episode 15: An Unfamiliar Environment
The jury in Jozef Puska’s trial for the murder of Ashling Murphy has now heard all of the evidence in the case.The final piece of evidence presented to them came from an expert witness for the defence, who raised concerns about the reliability of Mr Puska’s confession.The jurors were also given an update as to when they are likely to begin their deliberations.Mr Puska denies murdering Ashling Murp
Episode 14: The New Story
Jozef Puska has told the Central Criminal Court that he doesn't remember confessing to killing Ashling Murphy while he was in hospital. Today he claimed he and Ms. Murphy were both attacked by a man wearing a face mask. Under cross examination this afternoon from the prosecution, Jozef Puska said he didn’t remember making admissions to Gardaí that he killed Ashling Murphy in St James Hospital. He
Episode 13: I Never Saw Her
Jozef Puska has taken the stand in the trial where he is accused of the murder of Ashling Murphy.Before this, the prosecution closed its case by reading some of the Garda interviews with Mr Puska in Tullamore Garda Station after he was discharged from St James’ Hospital. The jury also heard about an email sent to the Garda Press Office from a person claiming to be responsible for Ashling’s death.
Episode 12: The First Speed Bump
The Ashling Murphy Murder Trial hit its "first speed bump” today.For the first time since the trial opened last month, the jurors were sent home without hearing from any witnesses.In this episode, you’ll hear what the judge had to say to them before he adjourned the case. Ashling Murphy was killed while exercising along the banks of the grand canal in Tullamore, Co Offaly on January 12th, 2022.Joz
Episode 11: Oxy
The jury in the Ashling Murphy murder trial has heard there's no evidence to suggest medication had an effect on Jozef Puska in relation to admissions he made to Gardaí two days after her death.Professor Michael Ryan, an expert in pharmacology and toxicology, told the jury that in his opinion there is no evidence to suggest Jozef Puska’s admissions to Gardai were related to any drug.Mr. Puska deni
Episode 10: Needle in a Haystack
Today the jury heard evidence that a DNA profile matching that of Jozef Puska was found under Ashling Murphy’s fingernails.Dr Lorna Flanagan said the likelihood of this male DNA belonging to someone unrelated to him was 'one in 14,000'.The jury also heard from Detective Sergeant David Scahill about arresting and ultimately charging Mr Puska with Ashling’s murder on 19th January 2022.Mr Puska has p
Episode 09: The Interpreter
Today the jury heard evidence from the interpreter who acted as a translator between gardaí and Jozef Puska while he was in St James’ Hospital.Miroslav Sedlacek said Mr Puska asked him to translate ‘accurately and exactly’, saying ‘I did it’ but that he didn’t do it intentionally. The jury of nine men and three women also heard some forensic evidence, which found a DNA profile from a bicycle
Episode 08: I am the Murderer
At today’s hearing of the Ashling Murphy murder trial, the jury heard Jozef Puska told Gardaí he was the murderer.The jurors also heard evidence about a search warrant being executed and of how he became upset as said he committed the murder. He denies murdering 23 year old school teacher Ashling Murphy.NOTE: Some of the evidence heard today is distressing in nature, listener discretion is advised
Episode 07: Beats Per Minute
In today’s sitting at the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard about evidence taken from Ashling Murphy’s Fitbit smart watch. She was wearing it on the day she died, and it tracked her heart rate and exercise route along the canal in Tullamore on the afternoon of 12th January 2022.The jury also heard from a friend of Jozef Puska who gave him a lift home to Mucklagh that evening.Separately, a Gar
Episode 06: Brown Eyes
At today’s sitting of the trial of Jozef Puska, a woman described a man cycling slowly and close to her on the day Ashling Murphy was killed.Annemarie Kelly told the jury that she first noticed a man who she felt was cycling close to her near to McDonalds in Tullamore on January 12th 2022.She claims she later saw him again on the Grand Canal.The trial also heard from paramedics who were called to
Episode 05: Widow's Peak
CCTV footage showing some of Ashling Murphy’s last known movements was shown to the jury today in the trial of a man accused of her murder.33-year-old Jozef Puska, of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh in Co Offaly has pleaded not guilty.In this episode, Frank outlines the CCTV footage of both Ashling Murphy and Mr Puska on the day she died.This morning, Detective Garda Ronan Lawlor from the Garda Technical
Episode 04: Twelve Sharp Wounds
Evidence of the post-mortem examination of Ashling Murphy was heard at the trial of Jozef Puska today. State Pathologist Sally Anne Collis said Ashling died as a result of stab wounds with a knife or sharp implement, and noted that there were some injuries to Ashling’s fingers which may have been defensive in nature. The trial also heard how the first gardai on the scene tried CPR and chest compre
Episode 03: Snow White
Today the trial of Jozef Puska heard from a man who discovered Ashling Murphy's body on the day she died. Enda Molloy was the first person to see Ashling Murphy laying in a hedgerow after the alleged attack. In this episode, Frank outlines the evidence heard from Mr Molloy and seven other witnesses in the trial today, including two women who were running along the canal bank on the afternoon Ashli
Episode 02: The Prosecution Opens its Case
In the first full day of the trial of Jozef Puska, prosecuting barrister Ann Marie Lawlor opened her case before the jury. They were also shown maps and photographs from the stretch of the canal where Ashling Murphy was killed.
Episode 01: Jury Selection
Jozef Puska, the man charged with the murder of Ashling Murphy, has pleaded not guilty in the Central Criminal Court today, and a jury was then sworn in. In this first episode episode, Frank and Aisling set out the processes involved in jury selection, and what's expected when the trial opens tomorrow.
Trailer
A daily podcast covering the trial proceedings for Jozef Puska, the man charged with the murder of Ashling Murphy. The alleged assault took place along the Grand Canal in Tullamore in January 2022.
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