BY KIERAN O’MAHONY and OLIVIA KELLEHER

TRIBUTES have been paid to a West Cork mum-of-four who died after a knife attack near her home on Monday night.

Stella Gallagher (59) was fatally injured and her husband Brian (63) seriously injured in Shrewsbury Downs in Ballinlough.

Mrs Gallagher, a native of Ballinspittle, worked under her maiden name Stella Griffin at pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly until her retirement two years ago.

In a statement on Wednesday Eli Lilly said: ‘We confirm that Stella was a long-standing employee at Lilly Kinsale for over 30 years, and she retired from the company in 2023.

‘Everyone at Lilly Kinsale sends their deepest condolences to the Gallagher family at this very sad time.’

Both Stella and her husband Brian, a native of Blackrock in Co Louth, were chemical engineers who had recently retired. She attended the then Cork Institute of Technology (now MTU) in the 1980s and graduated with a BSc in chemical engineering.

On Wednesday David Gallagher (25), with an address at Shrewsbury Downs, Ballinlough, appeared in court charged with the murder of his mother Stella and assault causing harm to his father Brian.

He appeared at Cork District Court where Sgt Niall Hayes gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He said Mr Gallagher gave no reply when the charges were put to him.

Sgt John Kelleher said that given that bail was not available to a murder accused at district court level, he was applying for a remand in custody.

Defence solicitor Shane Collins Day asked that Mr Gallagher be given urgent medical and psychiatric evaluation while in custody. He applied for and was granted free legal aid for his client who is not working.

Judge John King remanded Mr Gallagher in custody to appear at Cork District Court on November 26th via video link.

Mr Gallagher did not speak during the five-minute hearing.