B&B manager stabbed 55 times by resident who shouted ‘you’re dead’ during fatal attack, court hears

The manager of a B&B in Ballymena was stabbed 55 times by a resident who repeatedly shouted “you’re dead” whilst carrying out the fatal knife attack, a court has heard.

Inayat Shah (64), who ran the Traveller’s Rest on the Galgorm Road, was murdered by Michael Lenaghan (55) on the afternoon of March 21, 2020.

During a plea hearing at Belfast Crown Court today, it emerged that prior to killing Mr Shah, Lenaghan attacked a fellow resident at the B&B with a knife and threatened to slit the throat of a second resident.

A prosecutor told Judge Patricia Smyth that on the afternoon in question, Mr Shah’s 16-year-old granddaughter had been visiting.

The Shah family were watching TV in the living quarters of the property when they were approached by one of the residents who had just been stabbed in the chest by Lenaghan.

This prompted Mr Shah to call 999, and after this, the wounded man left the living quarters and walked outside.

Mr Shah was asked to stay inside by his granddaughter, but — whilst remaining on the 999 call — he followed the wounded man outside as he wanted to assist him.

As the wounded resident and Mr Shah made their way to Lenaghan’s accommodation, they were approached by Lenaghan who was still armed with a knife.

An eyewitness reported seeing Lenaghan acting in an aggressive manner and he was then seen chasing Mr Shah up an alleyway.

During the chase, Mr Shah ended up on the ground and he was then set upon by Lenaghan.

The prosecuting KC said: “Over the course of the next two-and-a-half minutes, the chilling and devastating attack on Mr Shah was captured on the recorded 999 call.

“The 999 call recorded the screams of Mr Shah as he was repeatedly stabbed by the defendant.

“Mr Shah pleaded with the defendant and offered to give him money but the defendant shouted at him saying ‘you’re dead, you’re dead, talking to the police about me, you’re dead, you’re dead, you’re dead’.

“The screams and groans of Mr Shah fell silent, shortly before the defendant walked away from the lifeless body.”

The wounded man ran back to the B&B shouting “the old man has been stabbed” and the emergency services were called.

Despite their best efforts, Mr Shah was pronounced dead at 3.57pm and a subsequent post-mortem indicated he had been stabbed 55 times.

Lenaghan, who was described in the aftermath of the killing as being “calm but out of it” and covered in blood, walked back to his accommodation.

He told the resident he threatened earlier that day “you’ll end up like Shah there, dead in the street”.

A short time after this he was approached by police and said: “That thing is in the alley. I did it. It’s me you’re looking for.”

When arrested for murder, Lenaghan asked “is he dead?” and when told this was the case, he replied “f*****g good”.

He was overheard by Mr Shah’s daughter shouting “happy days”.

He was aggressive and abusive to officers and also to custody staff at the PSNI station.

During a police interview, he gave a largely “no comment” response.

With an address as Galgorm Road in Ballymena, Lenaghan later admitted murdering Mr Shah on March 21, 2020.

He also admitted wounding one fellow resident and threatening to kill another on the same date.

Branding the fatal attack on Mr Shah as “callous” and “gratuitous” and one where “wanton violence was inflicted on the victim”, the prosecutor told Judge Smyth that Lenaghan had a relevant criminal record for violent offences in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England.

A defence barrister said his client suffered from an acute and complex personality disorder which resulted in loss of control.

Saying: “he can’t help himself…he is what he is”, the barrister said this disorder — coupled with Lenaghan’s alcohol intoxication that day — played a “significant” role in what occurred.

The defence barrister also paid tribute to members of Mr Shah’s family who attended Monday’s hearing.

Several of his loved ones provided statements which spoke of his kind, loving and charitable nature and the void he has left behind.

Judge Smyth also acknowledged the family and told them that she required further medical evidence before she would be in a position to impose the Tariff — the minimum term Lenaghan will spend in prison before he is considered eligible for release.

Get ahead of the day with the morning headlines at 7.30am and Fionnán Sheahan’s exclusive take on the day’s news every afternoon, with our free daily newsletter.