‘Murdered’ teacher Ashling Murphy ‘fought off attacker with keys’ with 2nd arrest made – World News

Murder cops investigating the death of Ashling Murphy arrested a second man in relation to potentially withholding information and were said to be quizzing a dad-of-three over the killing

Primary school teacher Ashling Murphy (

Image: PA)

Ashling Murphy may have fought for her life with a set of keys before she was murdered, police believe.

The primary school teacher, 23, resisted in a final struggle before Gardia believe she was killed by a stranger on a canal bank in Tullamore, Co Offaly, last Wednesday.

Police in Ireland are now quizzing a dad-of-three in his 30s over her death and have arrested a second man.

He was detained in eastern Ireland for questioning in relation to potential withholding of information.

Officers now believe Ashling might have used her keys in a desperate attempt to save her life, according to The Sun.

The music teacher was out jogging along the canal at 4pm when she was killed in a random attack.

The teacher was randomly attacked and murdered while out jogging

On Tuesday morning, the chief suspect in her murder case was seen leaving St James’ Hospital in Dublin at around 11.30am.

The dad-of-three, from outside Tullamore, was formally arrested at the hospital where he had spent the previous five nights.

He remains in custody where he is being questioned by detectives and specialists from the Police National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Two men are currently in custody following her murder
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PA)

The Gardai earlier confirmed they have the attacker’s DNA after Ashling fought for her life in the brutal attack in Tullamore.

Officers are working closely with colleagues at Europol and Eastern Europe as the probe continues.

A source told The Sun: “The investigation has already made great progress and this is another significant ­development.

“There is still a lot of work to do in the case but a lot of evidence has already been gathered.

Pupils from Ashling Murphy’s class hold photographs of her and red roses ahead of her funeral at St Brigid’s Church, County Offaly on January 18
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“The suspect will now be ­interviewed on suspicion of murder and will be given every opportunity to pass on what he might know about this horrific murder.”

The suspect was arrested as hundreds of mourners gathered at her funeral in Tullamore on Tuesday.

Ashling’s family ,friends, boyfriend, pupils and fellow musicians paid their respects at the ceremony while thousands attended online vigils in her memory.

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