Mallow man who admits killing Paula Canty to be sentenced on October 16

At the sentencing hearing on Monday, Ms Canty’s family spoke of their deep grief and loss and said they were left in January 2025 to organise her funeral on days when they should have been organising her 32nd birthday

Joseph Butler, of the Belfry, Bridewell Lane, Mallow, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of 31-year-old Paula Canty, pictured, at the Belfry, Bridewell Lane, Mallow, Co Cork, on January 3, 2025. Picture: Larry Cummins

A kitchen knife was plunged into the chest of a young mother of two and she was left by her killer to die in a pool of blood in an apartment in Mallow, it emerged at the sentencing hearing on Monday.

The late Paula Canty’s family spoke of their deep grief and loss and said they were left in January 2025 to organise her funeral on days when they should have been organising her 32nd birthday.

Joseph Butler, of the Belfry, Bridewell Lane, Mallow, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of 31-year-old Paula Canty at the Belfry, Bridewell Lane, Mallow, Co Cork, on January 3, 2025.

Sentencing evidence in the manslaughter case was heard by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork on Monday.

Detective Sergeant Mícheál O’Regan testified assistant State pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster found one single stab wound to the chest, which was 11.5 cm-deep, and concluded Ms Canty died as a result of haemorrhage and shock.

The deceased was in a relationship with Joseph Butler’s brother and they had all been drinking together earlier with another woman. The defendant claimed the stabbing occurred during a scuffle and Ms Canty was still alive when he left the apartment. 

Paula Canty. Picture: Facebook

However, Det Sgt O’Regan said this claim was inconsistent with the evidence, including the blood patterning found at the scene, which indicated she would have fallen forward on her face in the instant she was stabbed.

The detective said Joseph Butler was texting a female friend in the moments afterwards about what happened. Hours later, he was texting her to say: “Delete everything. Something bad is after happening”.

When questioned by gardaí, he said it was an accident, and he didn’t even know she was dead when he left the apartment.

He also said at interview with Detective Garda Aidan Long: “If I did it, it was an accident. She was a friend, family… Back to the house, myself and Michael were fighting, throwing boxes, missing more than we hit. 

"I was calling Paula bad words, bringing up her past. Paula pulled a knife, there was a struggle. I pushed Paula away and grabbed the knife. There was an accident over the struggle… I left with the knife. Paula was grand when I left. I went up Chinese Lane and threw the knife away on the grass. It had to happen in the struggle.” 

The defendant asked Det Garda Long: “Would you feel guilty if you murdered someone?” Det Garda Long replied he would. 

Joseph Butler then said after this exchange: “I don’t feel guilty. It was an accident, she’s family. I didn’t know she was dead until I got a phone call at 10.30am from my niece.” 

The knife was found on Jones Lane in Mallow when gardaí searched for it.

Mr Butler had more than 50 previous convictions, including three for assault, two for assault causing harm, one for having a knife or other article, one for aggravated burglary, two for making threats to kill, eight for theft and 20 public order convictions.

Prosecution senior counsel Donal O’Sullivan said the DPP put sentencing in the range of 10 to 15 years for this manslaughter.

Ray Boland, defence senior counsel, said the fatality came from a single wound and the main mitigating factor was the plea of guilty to manslaughter. “He is a man with many difficulties in his past. He grew up in an environment of violence and addiction. He has genuine remorse for the tragic death of Ms Canty, backed up by his plea of guilty,” Mr Boland said.

Ms Justice Eileen Creedon said she would impose sentence on the accused on October 16.