No parent should have to bury their child, and to have to do so when the child is killed is especially painful and heartbreaking, a priest has told mourners at the funeral of a young mother of two stabbed to death in Cork just over a week ago.
Fr Robert Young told mourners at the funeral Mass of Paula Canty (31) at St John the Baptist Church in Kinsale that the grief of her mother Sinead, her daughters Alyisha and Aoibhe, her siblings Darragh, Donna, Latoya, David and Rianna, and her father Paul Scanlan, was evident for all to see.
“As I look at you, Paula’s family, I sense the pain and grief you are experiencing for the loss of Paula. It is a great sadness that you are carrying, it surely is the grief of a parent to lose a son or a daughter and the grief you are experiencing is a particular kind of grief,” he said.
“It is not the natural scheme of things that a son or a daughter should die before their parent – it is certainly not the natural scheme of things that a parent should have to experience the murder of a son or a daughter.
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“It is heartbreaking to think about it and to see you carrying your pain – so today I want to acknowledge, and I’m sure I speak for everybody here, I want to acknowledge, your grief, your sadness, your heartbreak.”
Ms Canty, who would have celebrated her 32nd birthday last Monday, was found stabbed to death at her flat in the Belfry, Bridewell Lane in Mallow in North Cork on Friday, January 3rd, and a man has since appeared in court charged with her murder.
At the Mass, her aunt Kelly painted a tender, poignant and loving portrait of Ms Canty as someone with artistic and creative qualities as she provided a commentary of the gifts that symbolised her life as they were brought to the altar.
“Her uncle and godfather Brian brings up a family picture representing Paula’s many happy years in the company of her mother Sinead, and grandmother Clare, and grandfather Ray, in Farranbrien in Minane Bridge where she got to experience the joys of life in the country.
“Her sister Rianna brings up a bunch of flowers, representing Paula’s great work as an aspiring florist when she worked in a flower shop in Kinsale in the past, adding her dainty touches to every floral arrangement she perfected.
“Her friend Niamh brings up a tracksuit, representing Paula’s love of designer clothes and sports clothing that she frequently borrowed from her many friends, with whom she formed easy friendships because of her kind and pleasant nature.
“Her friend Susan brings up a sample of Paula’s creative artistic skills, here a painting filled with vibrant colours and tender strokes revealed a world that she could see, offering glimpses of her inner life and resilience.
[ Man (42) charged with the murder of Paula Canty in MallowOpens in new window ]
“Two very special people in Paula’s life, her daughters Aoibhe and Alyisha, bring to the altar a make-up set reflecting Paula’s artistry with make-up, highlighting the beauty she so deeply recognised.
“And Paula’s cousin Cabrini brings a cookbook that represents Paula’s love of cooking where in the sanctuary of the kitchen she found solace, turning simple ingredients into meals that warmed hearts and nourished souls.”
Fr Young referenced Ms Canty’s qualities as a person as he asked people to pray for her grieving family as they struggle with the enormity of her loss in such shocking and tragic circumstances, expressing the hope that she would rest now in peace.
“She had her struggles, she had her difficulties, she had her wrongdoing, but which one of us don’t?” Fr Young said. “But Paula also had a kind heart, she had good nature, and as we saw with the symbols, she loved cooking, was good at it, she was very artistic, she was gentle, she was likeable, she was courteous.”
Following the funeral Mass, Ms Canty’s remains were brought to St Patrick’s Cemetery in Nohoval outside Kinsale, where she was laid to rest at the Canty family plot near her maternal grandparents, Clare and Ray.
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