Tánaiste Micheál Martin has addressed Ashling Murphy’s partner’s victim impact statement at the sentencing of her murderer Jozef Puska.
The 33-year-old was found guilty by a jury of nine men and three women earlier this month after the court heard overwhelming evidence linking him to the 23-year-old teacher’s murder in January 2022.
As Puska was given a life sentence in prison, Ms Murphy’s devastated partner Ryan Casey spoke of his heartache at the loss of his beloved girlfriend.
He told Puska that "because of you I'll never get to marry my soulmate".
Mr Casey said: "It just sickens me to the core that someone can come to this country, be fully supported in terms of social housing, social welfare, and free medical care for over 10 years… over 10 years… never hold down a legitimate job, and never once contribute to society in any way shape or form… can commit such a horrendous evil act of incomprehensible violence on such a beautiful, loving and talented person who in fact, worked for the state, educating the next generation and represented everything that is good about Irish society.
"I feel like this country is no longer the country that Ashling and I grew up in and has officially lost its innocence when a crime of this magnitude can be perpetrated in broad daylight. This country needs to wake up. This time things have got to change.
"We have to once and for all start putting the safety of not only Irish people but everybody in this country who works hard, pays taxes, raises families and overall contributes to society first."
Asked about Mr Casey’s statement in court at an event in Dublin Castle on Tuesday, Mr Martin acknowledged that Ms Murphy’s partner and family had experienced a great loss.
He stated that as a European Union member state, Slovakia shares free travel with other countries in the bloc.
The Tánaiste said: "Well, I think first of all our heart goes out to [Mr Casey] and to the entire Murphy family in terms of the savage murder of Ashling and the trauma that has been visited upon those who loved her and her family is enormous.
"Within the European Union, we have free mobility. That applies to all 27 Member States. It applies to Ireland as well, Irish citizens can go to other EU member states. That's the context in terms of the free mobility of people and their various entitlements.
"In Ireland, as you know, we have probably one of the highest employment participation rates across Europe.
"But I understand the trauma that people have gone through and I can understand where people are coming from in respect of what they have experienced."
