A second man has been arrested in connection with the killing of the schoolteacher Ashling Murphy while she was out jogging in rural Ireland.
The man is reportedly known to the 31-year-old man who was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of Murphy’s murder. The second male was detained in relation to potential withholding of information contrary to the Offences Against the State Act and can be held for up to three days.
The first man, a father of young children with links to County Offaly, where Murphy was from, is still being held by Tullamore garda, who are leading the investigation into Murphy’s killing. It was announced he would appear before a special sitting of Tullamore district court on Wednesday evening.
He spent five days in a Dublin hospital after presenting himself with injuries that raised suspicion and was arrested on discharge while Murphy’s funeral was taking place. He can be held for up to 24 hours, excluding breaks including sleep, before being charged or released.
Murphy was killed last Wednesday in what was described by the bishop of Meath at her funeral as a “depraved act of violence”.
The scene along a canal path is still sealed off by gardai who are searching for forensic evidence and a possible weapon. They have searched nearby bottle and clothing banks and two houses of interest for potential evidence. They are also examining a Falcon Storm mountain bike that appeared to have been abandoned near the attack, and have seized two cars.
The 31-year-old arrested on suspicion of murder was questioned for up to 11 hours on Tuesday, and interviews resumed on Wednesday morning. Under the rules, he must be charged or released by about 9pm on Wednesday.
