Lucia Istokova, the woman convicted of covering up the murder of primary school teacher Ashling Murphy, is expected to be released from prison in late December or the first week of January. Istokova, 36, was handed a 20-month sentence for failing to inform gardai that her husband, Jozef Puska, had confessed the killing to her.
Immediate Deportation and State Action
Upon her release, Istokova is expected to be deported immediately to her native Slovakia. Department of Justice insiders have indicated that she will not be permitted to remain in Ireland, despite her status as an EU citizen.
The Irish State is likely to seek a 10-year exclusion order against her. This potential move is based on her criminal conviction and security grounds.
A Wider Family Conspiracy
The cover-up extended beyond Istokova to several other family members. Jozef Puska’s brothers received two-and-a-half-year sentences for withholding information, even as his sisters-in-law, Viera Gaziova and Jozefina Grundzova, were jailed for burning the killer’s clothes.
Gaziova was sentenced to two years, while Grundzova received a sentence of one year and nine months. The Puska family’s efforts to protect the killer were described by the victim’s father, Raymond, as “closing ranks” to protect an “animal.”
Financial and Social Consequences
The family’s ties to Ireland have largely been severed. The couple’s children have already returned to the village of Lucinivna in northern Slovakia, where they are being cared for by their grandparents.
Before the convictions, the extended family—including Puska’s brothers, their wives, and fourteen children—lived in a house funded by the Department of Social Protection. They relied on weekly social welfare payments and children’s allowances without working, but these state supports have now ceased.
Conditions of Incarceration
Istokova is currently held in the Mountjoy Dochas centre alongside her two sisters-in-law. While prison sources note there were initial threats from other inmates, the situation has since stabilized.
Due to Irish prison rules, Istokova and her husband have been prohibited from seeing each other face-to-face, as the system does not allow married couples serving sentences to meet due to security and transport costs. However, they may continue to communicate via a designated daily telephone call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Lucia Istokova being released early?
Istokova is expected to be released after serving 15 months of her 20-month sentence because she is eligible for a 25% remission for great behaviour.
What happened to the children of Jozef Puska and Lucia Istokova?
The children have already left Ireland and are living with their grandparents and cousins in the Poprad District of northern Slovakia.
What specific crime was Lucia Istokova convicted of?
She was convicted of not cooperating with gardai and failing to disclose that her husband had confessed to her that he killed Ashling Murphy.
Do you believe that exclusion orders are an appropriate response for those involved in the cover-up of serious crimes?