Today, the Ashling Murphy murder trial entered its first full week at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.

Jozef Puska, of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly is on trial, accused of murdering Ms Murphy in January 2022.

He denies the charge.

To follow all things related to the trial, you can listen to Newstalk Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney's daily podcast All Rise: The Ashling Murphy Murder Trial. 

Today the court heard Jozef Puska said, 'I murdered, I am the murderer' through an interpreter from a bed in St James's Hospital in Dublin, two days after the schoolteacher was killed.

"The jury has already been told that he was taken there with stab wounds to his stomach area, which he claimed he had sustained after being the victim of an unprovoked attack in Blanchardstown on the same day that Ashling Murphy was killed," Frank told The Hard Shoulder.

Two Gardaí  - Detective Sergeant Brian Jennings and  Detective Garda Fergus Hogan - were sent from Tullamore to St James's Hospital as part of the investigation.

"Detective Sergeant Jennings said that he spoke to Mr Puska twice on the 14th of January last year.

"The first time that afternoon and again in the evening, when a search warrant was executed on the hospital.

"During that first conversation in the afternoon, Mr Puska again went through his claim that he'd been set upon after getting out of a taxi in Blanchardstown - that was his explanation for the stab wounds.

"He was asked about his bike during this conversation and he said that it had been stolen from outside his house in Mucklagh two weeks beforehand.

"Later that day then in the evening time, Gardaí  were granted a warrant to search the hospital and they given permission to seize property belonging to Jozef Puska.

"After explaining to him why they were seizing his phone and clothing, Detective Sergeant Jennings said Mr Puska asked if he was a suspect.

"Detective Jennings told him that he was a person of interest; he said Jozef Puska then paused for a few seconds.

"He described it as a notable pause, and the interpreter - who was translating this conversation on loud speaker on a phone that was in that hospital room - he told Detective Sergeant Jennings that Mr Puska wanted to make an official statement that he committed the murder.

"He said, 'I did it, I murdered, I am the murderer'".

'He was upset'

Frank said Detective Sergeant Jennings then cautioned Mr Puska immediately and that he was offered a solicitor.

"He said at this point after that caution was made he could no longer ask him any questions, certainly not without a solicitor present.

"But he said Mr Puska just kept talking, so he took down notes of what he was saying.

"He told the jury today that  Mr Puska said - again through this interpreter that was on loud speaker - he said the reason I didn't answer the question, the reason I am pleading guilty, I don't want anything bad to happen to my family, I feel guilty I regret it.

"He said he didn't do it intentionally, he asked if his family was safe - Will they be safe, he asked.

"He was concerned the girl's family could harm his own family. He was told by Detective Sergeant Jennings that they were good people and wouldn't harm his family."

Frank said Mr Puska then queried if his name would be published in newspapers.

"Detective Sergeant Jennings  said today in his evidence that Mr Puska was concerned for himself, he was concerned for his family, he showed remorse, he was upset, he was crying in the hospital bed.

"The interpreter on the phone was also quite upset.

"He said that at no point did he try to end the conversation, Puska that is," he added.

Every day of the Ashling Murphy murder trial will be documented by Newstalk Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney via the All Rise: The Ashling Murphy Murder Trial podcast. 

Listen back here:

Main image: Candles outside Dáil Éireann in Dublin at a National Women's Council vigil for Ashling Murphy on January 14th 2022. Image: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie