Five people have been charged with obstructing the police investigation into the murder of Irish school teacher Ashling Murphy.

Ms Murphy, 23, was killed while she was out exercising along a canal in Tullamore, County Offaly, in January last year.

Jozef Puska, 33, of Mucklagh, Tullamore, was sentenced to life in prison last month after he was found guilty of her murder.

Five people have now been charged with obstructing the Garda’s investigation into her murder.

Marek Puska, Lubomir Puska and Lucia Istokova have been charged with failing to disclose information which might have been of assistance in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of Puska.

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The offences are alleged to have taken place between 12 January and 27 January last year.

Viera Gazoiva and Jozefina Grundzova are charged with acting with intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of Puska, between 12 January and 14 January last year.

According to Irish broadcaster RTE, Marek Puska and Lubomir Puska are the brothers of killer Jozef Puska, while Lucia Istokova is his wife.

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The defendants appeared at Tullamore District Court, in central Ireland, on Wednesday.

Their cases were sent forward for trial at the Central Criminal Court.

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