Case No. 0128Manslaughter · Co. Cork · 3 Jan 2025
Joseph Butler jailed for 10 years for manslaughter of Paula Canty in Mallow, Co Cork
Joseph Butler, 43, was charged with the murder of Paula Canty, 31, after a stabbing at their shared apartment in Mallow, Co Cork, in the early hours of January 3, 2025, following a night of socialising and drinking at different houses. Canty, a mother of two in a relationship with Butler's brother Michael John Butler, died at the scene from a single stab wound to the chest. The DPP accepted Butler's plea of guilty to manslaughter. On October 16, 2026, Judge Eileen Creedon in the Central Criminal Court in Cork sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment with the last two years suspended, conditional on keeping the peace and being of good behaviour.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court5 Oct
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced16 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Joseph Butler stabbed Paula Canty in the chest during a row at their shared apartment and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
- Where
- The stabbing occurred at the Belfry, Bridewell Lane, Mallow, Co Cork, where Butler lived with Canty and her partner Michael John Butler; Butler is a native of Midleton, Co Cork.
- When
- The incident occurred in the early hours of January 3, 2025, after the three had been socialising and drinking at different houses in Mallow late on January 2nd.
- Cause
- Paula Canty died from haemorrhage and shock due to a single stab wound to the chest.
- Weapon
- Butler plunged a knife 11 to 11.5cm into Paula Canty's chest.
- Investigation
- Butler was identified on CCTV carrying a knife as he left the apartment at 4.07am and was arrested and brought to Mallow Garda station for questioning.
- Charges
- Butler was originally charged with murder but the DPP accepted his plea of guilty to manslaughter.
- In court
- Judge Eileen Creedon in the Central Criminal Court in Cork dismissed Butler's account that the stabbing was an accident and remanded him in custody until October 16, 2026 for sentencing.
- Sentence
- On October 16, 2026, Butler was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment with the last two years suspended, conditional on keeping the peace and being of good behaviour for two years after release.
- Other details
- Butler left the apartment without calling emergency services; Michael John Butler rang emergency services at 10.16am.
- Butler had 50 previous convictions and a long history of alcohol addiction.
- Paula Canty was due to celebrate her 32nd birthday three days after her death, and her brother Darragh Canty gave a victim impact statement at sentencing.
36 statements extracted from the articles
- whatJoseph Butler pleaded guilty to manslaughter of Paula Canty (irishtimes.com)
- whatPaula Canty, Michael John Butler, and Joseph Butler had been socialising at different houses in Mallow late on January 2nd (irishtimes.com)
- whatAll three had been drinking (irishtimes.com)
- whatJoseph Butler stabbed Paula Canty in the chest during a row (irishtimes.com)
- whatPaula Canty was pronounced dead at the scene (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe stab wound was 11cm deep and she would have collapsed immediately (irishtimes.com)
- whatButler plunged a knife more than 11cm into the chest of Paula Canty (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe knife was plunged 11.5cm into Paula Canty's chest (irishtimes.com)
- whatButler left the apartment and did not call emergency services (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe stabbing occurred at the Belfry, Bridewell Lane, Mallow (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing took place at an apartment in the Belfry, Bridewell Lane, Mallow, Co Cork (irishtimes.com)
- whereButler is a native of Midleton, Co Cork (irishtimes.com)
- whereButler lived with the couple in the apartment where the killing occurred (irishtimes.com)
- whenJoseph Butler returned home at 1.50am, Michael John Butler at 2.21am, and Paula Canty at 2.31am (irishtimes.com)
- whenMichael John Butler rang emergency services at 10.16am (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on 3 January 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- whenPaula Canty was due to celebrate her 32nd birthday three days after her death (irishtimes.com)
- causePaula Canty died from haemorrhage and shock due to a single stab wound to the chest (irishtimes.com)
- causePaula Canty died from a single knife wound to the chest (irishtimes.com)
- investigationJoseph Butler was identified on CCTV carrying a knife as he left the apartment at 4.07am on January 3rd (irishtimes.com)
- investigationJoseph Butler was arrested and brought to Mallow Garda station for questioning (irishtimes.com)
- investigationBlood pooling indicated the deceased bled heavily at the location (irishtimes.com)
- chargeButler was originally charged with murder (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe DPP accepted his plea of guilty to manslaughter (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Eileen Creedon remanded Joseph Butler in continuing custody until October 16th for sentencing (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentencing hearing took place in the Central Criminal Court in Cork (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Eileen Creedon dismissed Butler's account of events (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a sentence of 12 years with the last two years suspended (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe condition is that Butler keeps the peace and is of good behaviour for two years after release (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe DPP accepted a plea of manslaughter instead of murder (irishtimes.com)
- otherButler claimed Paula pulled a knife and he grabbed it during a struggle (irishtimes.com)
- otherButler said he threw the knife away on the grass up Chinese Lane (irishtimes.com)
- otherDefence counsel Ray Boland pleaded for leniency and suggested suspending a portion of the sentence (irishtimes.com)
- otherPaula Canty was in a relationship with Michael John Butler, a brother of the accused (irishtimes.com)
- otherJoseph Butler had a long history of alcohol addiction (irishtimes.com)
- otherDarragh Canty, a brother of the deceased, gave a victim impact statement (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 16 Oct2026Paula Canty killing: Man jailed for 10 years for manslaughter of Cork mother (31)
Reports the sentencing hearing, the judge's reasoning rejecting Butler's accident defence, victim impact statements from the Canty family, and details of the offence and relationship between the parties.
victim, Paula Canty, 31, female, irish (judged from name)Paula Cantyconvicted, Joseph Butler, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Butler - 5 Oct2026Man (43) to be sentenced for manslaughter of mother of two in Mallow stabbing incident
Pre-sentencing hearing details: DPP recommended 10–15 years; Butler has 50 previous convictions; victim impact statements read by family; Judge Eileen Creedon remanded him until 16 October 2026 for sentencing.
victim, Paula Canty, 31, female, irish (judged from name)Paula Cantyaccused, Joseph Butler, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Butler