A 42-year-old man has been charged with the murder of mother of two Paula Canty in north Cork last week. Joseph Butler of the Belfry, Bridewell Lane in Mallow was remanded in custody after being charged with the murder of 31-year-old Ms Canty of Bridewell Lane in Mallow on 3rd January.
Ms Canty has been remembered by family and friends as “beautiful and kind.”
In a GoFundMe appeal, her mother said that her daughter had been looking forward to 2025: “She was taken from us way too soon in a sudden and tragic way without any goodbyes. Paula was looking forward to a fresh, bright new year start with her loving family and with her good friends.
“The community, our family, relatives, neighbours, and a large circle of friends are just heartbroken,” the appeal for the Street Angels, a charity in Cork for those sleeping rough, said.
The court heard that Mr Butler had been arrested at Bowling Green, Mallow at 3.09am on Thursday morning. Detective Sgt Michael O’Regan of Mallow Garda Station said that Mr Butler had been charged with Ms Canty’s murder at 3:31 am this morning.
The accused made no reply when the charges were put to him after caution. Mr Butler had been arrested on Tuesday afternoon for questioning about the murder after Gardaí launched a murder investigation on Saturday.
Defence solicitor Joseph Cuddigan said that Butler planned to contest the murder charge. Dt Srg O’Regan said he would endeavour to have the matter ready for referral within the statutory 42 day period.
Ms Canty died from a stab wound to the upper body, the results of a postmortem examination by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster who confirmed Ms Canty died as a result of foul play.
Ms Canty, who was originally from West Cork, is survived by her children Alyisha and Aoibhe and her mother Sinead, and siblings Darragh, Donna, Latoya, David and Rianna.