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Ashling Murphy's Partner Resolves Defamation Case Against BBC

Thursday, 3 July 2025 11:01

Ryan Casey issued a High Court case against the BBC.

Ryan Casey has settled his defamation action against the BBC over comments made on one of its programmes after Jozef Puska was sentenced for Ashling Murphy’s murder.

Mr Casey, who was in a relationship with the young schoolteacher at the time of her murder, has welcomed the outcome, saying it marked the end of a difficult chapter.

In late 2023, a jury found Jozef Puska guilty of murdering Ashling Murphy along the banks of the Grand Canal in Tullamore.

At Puska’s sentence hearing, Ryan Casey delivered a powerful statement, outlining his relationship with Ashling and the devastating impact her death has had on him.

He also touched on other issues, including his opinion that the country he and Ashling grew up in was no longer safe.

Later, BBC Northern Ireland’s current affairs programme, The View, discussed the content of his statement. 

On the back of comments made by one of the show’s contributors, Ryan Casey initiated defamation proceedings against the BBC.

That action has now been settled out of court with the BBC clarifying that it “does not consider him to be a criminal or a racist, or someone guilty of or attempting to incite hatred, or someone seeking to pose as a hero of the far right through his Victim Impact Statement.”

In a statement issued afterwards, Mr Casey welcomed the settlement.

He said it marked the end of a long and difficult chapter of frustration and censorship.


Mr Casey said he took the action, “not solely out of anger, but out of a need for accountability and dignity for Ashling,” as well as himself, their families, and all families who deserve to have their voices heard without such harsh criticism or judgement.
 

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