Ashling Murphy killing: Irish police arrest man

Ashling Murphy was a teacher, keen camogie player and talented folk musician

Irish police have arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of the murder of primary school teacher Ashling Murphy.

The 23-year-old was attacked while out exercising beside a canal in Tullamore, County Offaly, last Wednesday.

The arrested man is being held at Tullamore Garda Station.

Earlier, mourners including Irish President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach (PM) Micheál Martin, attended an emotional funeral service Mass at St Brigid's Church in Mount Bolus.

Her death has shocked the nation and tens of thousands of people have attended vigils in Ireland and further afield in her honour.

Hospital discharge

The suspect, who can be detained for up to 24 hours, was arrested after he was deemed medically fit to be discharged from St James's Hospital in Dublin earlier on Tuesday, RTÉ reports.

• Funeral message: Family robbed of 'most precious gift'

• At the scene: 'Everyone feels a connection to Ashling'

• In pictures: Tearful pupils pay tribute

He had presented himself to the hospital last Thursday night with serious and suspicious injuries, says the Irish broadcaster.

Gardaí (Irish police) were alerted, having contacted hospitals after Ashling's killing, asking medical officials to contact them if they had suspicions in relation to a wounded patient.

Police said on Monday "significant progress" was being made in the murder investigation, as they renewed an appeal for information.

Evidence has been gathered from the post-mortem examination, the forensic examination of the scene, information from public appeals and interviews with witnesses, RTÉ reports.

'Our shining light'

At Ms Murphy's funeral, her parish priest, Fr Michael Meade, told mourners her family was robbed of their "most precious gift".

Symbols of her life were brought to the altar during her funeral, including a fiddle, a Kilcormac/Killoughey camogie jersey, a family picture, a school book and her photo.

Mourners came out in force to pay their respects to the popular primary school teacher

One beacon of light in last week's darkness was the outpouring of support and sympathy, he added.

Pupils from Durrow National School formed a guard of honour for their teacher, and held photographs of Ms Murphy.

A number of the children also held fiddles and tin whistles in honour of the keen musician.

The message next to Ms Murphy's image read: "Fly high in the sky, our shining light."

Musicians lined the route of the funeral procession to play emotional tributes to Ashling Murphy

Representatives from Ms Murphy's local Gaelic football club, as well as from her old school, attended the parish church of Saint Brigid.

Other tributes to Ashling Murphy were held around Ireland, while schools held a minute's silence.