A 42-year-old man remains in custody after being charged with the murder of Paula Canty, a 31-year-old mother of two, who was found fatally stabbed in her flat in Mallow, Co. Cork, last week.
Joseph Butler, of The Belfry, Bridewell Lane in Mallow, appeared before Midleton District Court this morning to face the charge of murder.
Mr. Butler, originally from Midleton was charged in the early hours of today following his arrest earlier in the week.
Detective Sergeant Micheal O’Regan of Mallow Garda Station told the court he arrested Mr. Butler at Bowling Green, Mallow, at 3:09am. He further stated that Mr. Butler was charged with Ms. Canty’s murder at 3:31am, and that the accused made no reply when the charge was read to him.
Gardaí launched a murder investigation after Ms. Canty’s body was discovered with a fatal stab wound to the upper body. A postmortem conducted by Assistant State Pathologist Dr. Margot Bolster confirmed her death was the result of foul play. Mr. Butler had been detained for questioning since Tuesday.
Ms. Canty’s funeral arrangements have been confirmed. Her remains will lie in repose at Gabriel and O’Donovan’s Funeral Home in Kinsale on Friday from 5pm, with prayers taking place at 6pm.
A requiem mass will be held on Saturday at 11am in St John the Baptist Church, Kinsale, followed by her burial at St Patrick’s Cemetery in Nohoval, near her hometown.
The local community remains in shock following the tragic loss of the young mother, and tributes have poured in for Ms. Canty, remembered as a kind and loving person.
