Watch: Gardaí appeal for information after murder of Ashling Murphy in Tullamore

Witnesses who saw teacher Ashling Murphy and her killer in the moments before she was attacked and murdered are today being “urgently” sought by gardaí.

Ms Murphy was murdered yesterday in a random attack while exercising along a popular walkway in broad daylight.

Officers believe she was beaten to death by a man on a canal bank in Tullamore, Co Offaly, in the afternoon. One man is in custody and today being questioned by officers.

Ms Murphy (22) had been jogging along a stretch of the Grand Canal, known as Fiona’s Way in memory of missing woman Fiona Pender.

"This man is in custody but more people who saw elements of the attack, or either the victim or the suspect before or after this terrible crime, are now being urgently sought, as we continue to question the suspect,” a source said.