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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
David Kent & John Hand

Where Ashling Murphy murder investigation stands with two key bits of evidence as funeral of tragic teacher to take place

Gardaí believe they are making "significant progress" in their investigation into the murder of Ashling Murphy - as two crucial bits of evidence are now being examined.

The 23-year-old will be laid to rest on Tuesday after her brutal murder last week.

Ashling was out jogging along the canal in Tullamore when she was attacked and killed in broad daylight.

The 23-year-old's funeral Mass will be held in St Brigid's Church in Mountbolus at 11am on Tuesday with her burial afterwards in Lowertown Cemetery.

The funeral cortege will leave Ashling's home at 10.30am before arriving at the church.

As that is happening, Gardai will be focusing on two bits of evidence they believe to be key to the probe.

The bottle bank

On Monday, a bottle bank overlooked by CCTV was removed from a car park just over a kilometre away from where Ashling was murdered.

Eight containers were sealed off on Sunday night by gardai, who preserved the area on the Daingean road, in Tullamore, Offaly until after 4pm on Monday.

A lorry arrived and took just one away ahead of investigators searching it as they try and gather more evidence after last Wednesday's murder of 23-year-old Ashling.

Gardai are looking for any evidence which may assist the major inquiry.

The car park where the bottle bank is on the opposite side of the canal to a monument for Fiona Pender, the 25-year-old from Tullamore who went missing while seven months pregnant in 1996.

The bike

Gardai issued an appeal for information on a distinctive mountain bike as part of their investigation into the murder.

Investigators asked anyone with information regarding a black Falcon Storm mountain bike with straight handlebars and distinctive yellow/green front forks to come forward.

What else are Gardai looking for?

Gardaí have asked anyone who saw a man dressed in black tracksuit top with no hood, black tracksuit bottoms with a large white stripe or white writing on the side and black runners to come forward.

Officers have asked members of the public whether they saw this man walking in the Tullamore area, or if they gave the man a lift on the evening last Wednesday.

The public has also been asked if they noticed him loitering at any location or “involved in any activity which drew your attention”.

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