Ashling Murphy's partner says he'll "never want to rule out" career in politics
In the third and final part of our exclusive podcast interview which we are serialising today, Ryan Casey revealed he's thought about entering the world of politics - following a legal battle with the BBC over remarks made about his victim impact statement.
'I've always been interested in politics. Always have been since a very young age. I was always obsessed with American politics and then going to a little more Irish politics as time went on, I started realising what's going on.
'Did I ever see myself doing it ? No. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't consider it for the last election cycle.'
Ryan, 27, last week settled a defamation case against the BBC, which issued a statement that it did not consider him to be 'racist' or someone who was being held up as a 'hero of the far right' through his victim impact statement.
It also stated it was 'happy to clarify' it does not consider Mr Casey to be 'someone guilty of, or attempting to, incite hatred'.
The statement came after journalist Kitty Holland was a guest on the BBC's 'The View' programme and stated that she believed some elements of his victim impact statement were 'incitement to hatred' and that Ryan was 'being held up as a hero of the far right'.
Ryan, who has views on a number of issues, says he had been approached about running in the last election - but he wasn't in the right headspace at the time.
'At the time I wanted to do it, a lot of people wanted me to do it. But you know, in hindsight looking back, I wasn't in the right mental state, you know, it was more out of anger and if I was to do it now, it would be more, I suppose, of a natural progression. Better judged.
'I'll never want to rule it out, completely. But we'll see how things go. I'm not entirely happy with a lot of people, the way things are going.'
Ryan, who told us earlier in the interview that he was not 'far right' or 'anti immigrant,' says he's considered using his harrowing experience for good - and he doesn't want it to go to waste.
'It's obviously come about due to horrendous circumstances. Did I ever want this? No. Did I ever want to be sitting here today? No I didn't.
'But... if you can, I suppose, now, use this to do some good to help people, why not? And what I'm going to do exactly, I don't know, and maybe nothing will happen. But I suppose it would be a shame for me to let it slip, and maybe if I can do some good and maybe help some people, maybe help things on a wider scale - why not?'
The grieving young man also opened up about his process for dealing with grief - and how his father Ned gave him valuable advice that helped get him through the unimaginable tragedy.
'I will say, don't get me wrong, it will be the roughest time of my life. You do wonder yourself thinking on your darkest days, how the hell am I even sitting here today? How do you get through it? I'm not going to beat around the bush either. We have an amazing family, we're so lucky. Some people in these situations we're in mightn't be so lucky. At the end of the day, your only tool is to lean on each other,' he said.
'I've two parents and they're just amazing people. I don't know where I'd be only for them.'
Speaking about his mindset in the days and weeks after Jozef Puska brutally murdered the love of his life in January 2022, Ryan said:
'I was not in a good headspace for quite some time. I might be sitting here talking to you today and able to hold a conversation, but it wasn't always like this the last three and a half years. You have to have the mindset - for Ashling, and for your family as well. You have to go on,' he said.
'My Dad brought me for a walk in the very early stages and he told me something that stuck with me even to this day. He was worried, as you would be. I wasn't in a good head space. He said something that will always stick with me. He said: 'Ryan, that guy (Puska) is after taking so much from you and from all of us. Don't let him take any more.
''Use that as your internal fire that you need to burn to get back on track'. That was something that kind of hit me at the time.'
Ryan is now actively involved in the incredible charity - the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund - which gives back to the community and also involves her parents and siblings.
He also plays golf, darts, and keeps fit as he works towards a better future - living with the grief.
'It was an accumulation of things. I started working out and eating healthy you know and I'm a firm believer in that now, what you put into your body is highly important for your mood.
'People do ask how you get through it, you just have to find that inner resilience,' Ryan said.
'There's still life out there.'
The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
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