A 31-year-old mother of two died from haemorrhage and shock after suffering a stab wound to the thorax, an inquest heard.
Cork Coroner’s Court briefly opened the inquest into the death of Paula Canty, a native of Kinsale. Ms. Canty was found dead on January 3, 2025, at her home in Bridewell Lane, Mallow. She died just three days before her 32nd birthday.
Joseph Butler, 42, of the Belfry in Mallow, was subsequently charged with her murder contrary to common law.
Evidence of the cause of death was given at Mallow courthouse by Dr. Margaret Bolster. She performed an autopsy on the deceased on January 4 in the morgue in Cork City.
Dr. Bolster stated that the death resulted from a stabbing incident. Inspector Paul Aherne told Coroner for County Cork, Frank O’Connell, that Ms. Canty was pronounced dead by a doctor at a property in Mallow at 1:45 pm.
He indicated that a man has been sent forward for trial at the Central Criminal Court after being charged in connection with Ms. Canty’s death.
Inspector Aherne requested an adjournment of the inquest following the serving of the book of evidence on the accused. Mr. O’Connell stated that following the commencement of legal proceedings, he planned to adjourn the inquest indefinitely.
“I am adjourning the inquest ‘sine die’. There will be no decision now. We will revisit the situation (when proceedings end).”
Ms. Canty is survived by her mother Sinead, her daughters Alyisha and Aoibhe, and her five siblings, Darragh, Donna, Latoya, David, and Rianna.
