Mallow man who pleaded guilty to Paula Canty's killing awaits sentencing

Joseph Butler, a resident of the Belfry on Bridewell Lane in Mallow, entered a guilty plea for the manslaughter of Paula Canty, a mother of two, after a knife was driven into her chest on January 3, 2025. Evidence presented by Detective Sergeant Mícheál O’Regan and assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster confirmed a single deep stab wound that caused death by haemorrhage and shock. Butler claimed the stabbing occurred during a scuffle and that Canty was still alive when he left, but investigators disputed this, citing blood-pattern analysis and Butler’s texts to a female friend that suggested he tried to conceal the incident.

He has more than 50 prior convictions, including assaults and threats to kill. Senior counsel for the prosecution recommended a custodial term of 10 to 15 years, whereas defence lawyer Ray Boland emphasized Butler’s difficult upbringing, remorse, and the guilty plea as mitigating circumstances. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon scheduled the formal sentencing for October 16.