A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Cork mother-of-two Paula Canty.
Joseph Butler, 42, said “not fucking guilty” after he was charged with her murder on Thursday morning, Midleton District Court heard.
He was charged that on January 3, he murdered Ms Canty at 31 The Belfry, Bridewell Lane, Mallow. The accused has an address at the same location where Ms Canty, 31, was killed.
Detective Sgt Micheál O’Regan said that Mr Butler was charged at 3.31am and made no reply after caution.
But the accused’s solicitor, Joseph Cuddigan, said that his client had instructed him that he had actually replied “not guilty”.
When Mr Butler protested in court to the alleged lack of reply after the charge, Judge Roberts told him to allow his solicitor to speak.
Det. Sgt O’Regan said that Mr Butler made no reply after the charge but later, after he returned to his office, he was told that Mr Butler wanted to say something which was “not fucking guilty”. Judge Roberts noted that Mr Butler had made the further reply of “not fucking guilty”.
Mr Cuddigan said that the matter was being contested.
“I take it there will be no problem supplying the Book of Evidence in the statutory 42-day period,” Mr Cuddigan said. Det. Sgt O’Regan said that he would “try his best” to do so.
Sgt Majella O’Sullivan said that the accused could not apply for bail at the District Court level. She requested that he be remanded in custody until January 14 via videolink at Mallow District Court. Judge Roberts consented to this request.
“My condolences and sympathies go out to Ms Canty’s mother and children,” Judge Roberts said. He said that he “was aware” of Mr Butler’s circumstances and would grant legal aid.
