The sister of Ashling Murphy remained largely composed as she delivered an eight-page victim impact statement to the Central Criminal Court, at times turning to look directly at Jozef Puska.
Amy Murphy said this was the first opportunity to truly express the deep hurt and loss they had experienced as they had tried their best to remain dignified and composed during the investigation and the murder trial.
She began her victim impact statement with "our job as children was to set the dinner table for five people every day".
She went on to describe a sister she watched over and adored who nourished family and friends with humour, positivity and hope.
Describing the hustle and bustle of family life with matches and fleadhs, she said the kitchen at home was always filled with music and the normalities of everyday life, "But the table was always set for five".
She described her sister as the glue that bound their family and while she was the youngest was "everybody's role model".
She outlined her talent as a musician, her love of fashion and shopping and her dedication as a teacher of primary school children.
She said it had been "widely documented that Ashling's murder was a watershed moment demanding an end to violence against women in Ireland".
Ashling was described as a "catalyst for change in society as we knew it. Titles she did not ask for. Titles we wish on no daughter, sister or partner".
Ms Murphy said: "For us she is Ashling for for many her story will haunt the internet through clickbait articles, trending Twitter threads and invasive podcast episodes, using the contents of her story for popularity.
"With this we as a family have been thrust into an arena as victims that we never asked for but were compelled to participate in, in order to ensure justice for Ashling."
"Music is not and will never be the same without Ashling. Our love for Irish music was intertwined with a special bond, we could read each other's mind when we played together."
She said she had "never felt hatred like this. We were not raised to be like this," but what happened to her sister had tainted their outlook on society forever more.
Until 12 January 2022 they had seen the best in humanity and now were cautious and nervous, look over their shoulders and are suspicious of strangers.
She went on to say how their table was also a gathering place where she an Ashling would play music together.
She said: "Music is not and will never be the same without Ashling. Our love for Irish music was intertwined with a special bond, we could read each other's mind when we played together.
"Each wink and smile she sent my way as her fingers created something beautiful beyond sound, was her connection. Our connection together.
"Ashling's pink fiddle case now lies covered in dust. For me, this serves as the hardest and cruelest reminder we will never play together again and how fragile this life truly is."
She said this "inhumane act of depravity highlights to us how naive we were to the dangers lingering in our society…right under our noses in our community, practially on our doorstep".
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She said crossing a national border did not instill a moral code in a person adding: "You were given an Irish welcome and supported by the State to allow you to reside here.
"You repaid this by brutally murdering a beautiful talented girl who contributed so much to society."
Puska murdered the primary school teacher in a random attack along the Grand Canal in Tullamore on the afternoon of 12 January last year.
She said the family was relieved that after today they did not have to spend time "in the vicinity of this vile human being. Your lies and deceit knows no bounds. At no point did you take responsibility for your actions. Quite the contrary really".
She said to "add insult to injury you proceeded to spin a ludicrous web of lies suggesting you were in fact helping Ashling in her dying moments and not inflicting these deadly injuries."
"I am in total disbelief that such evil could attempt to masquerade as a good Samaritan. Shame on you for disrespecting the memory of Ashling like that," she said.
"You stole her life you took her voice you robbed us of our family of five."
Amy Murphy praised the actions of gardaí for their investigative work and said the town of Tullamore had been promised more cctv to ensure women could go safely about their daily lives.
"These were empty promises that never came to fruition," she said.
Describing her anguish at hearing details of her sister's death she said her last ten minutes on this earth must have felt like the longest as she fought for her life.
"You stole her life you took her voice you robbed us of our family of five," she said to Puska.
She said by pleading not guilty Puska had ensure her family had to sit through every detail of the trial and remain traumatised by the violence and brutality.
She said: "Our worst nightmare, played over and over through each piece of footage, each witness, every statement...the descriptions of her wounds, her mouth, her legs, her face her hair her scarf, her fitbit and her last beating heartbeats. How could any human inflict such hate on innocence?"
She said the family was disturbed by Puska's demeanour as post-mortem evidence was given.
She said: "Smiling and smirking you appeared to get some enjoyment out of hearing the harrowing evidence of Ashling's injuries. Your total lack of empathy and remorse will forever haunt me and only reaffirms that evil is real and it might be behind us at any point."
She said seeing her sister's blood-soaked t-shirt during the trial is a moment that will haunt her for the rest of her days.
She said their hearts were "immeasurably sad" and no amount of medication or counselling could cease the excruciating pain they feel every day.
"It doesn't matter now what happens as nothing in this world can ever bring our darling Ashling back and that is the cross we must carry for the rest of our days," she added.
She said: "As a sister I could not protect her while she was alive, all I can attempt to do now is protect her memory.
"Ashling was subjected to incomprehensible violence by this predator who was not known to her. She never taught his children and did not report him to Tusla.
"These false narratives are both hurtful and damaging. This was a random and unprovoked attack."
She said after today she will never give Puska the privilege that she was thinking about him and he will not live rent-free in the back of her mind.
"However I am and will forever be consumed by Ashling, her warmth her beauty, the meaning she brought to life. That is both the hardest pill to swallow and the greatest honour I will wear in this life," she added.
