Ballymena: B&B manager stabbed 55 times during 'callous' murder

Inayat Shah was stabbed 55 times in The Travellers Rest

The manager of a guest house in County Antrim was murdered by a resident who repeatedly shouted "you're dead" while carrying out a knife attack, a court has heard.

Inayat Shah, who was 67, died after he was stabbed 55 times at The Travellers Rest in Ballymena.

Michael Lenaghan, 55, of Galgorm Road in Ballymena has admitted murdering Mr Shah.

Details of the attack emerged during a plea hearing at Belfast Crown Court.

On Monday the court heard that prior to killing Mr Shah, Lenaghan had attacked a fellow resident at the B&B with a knife and threatened to slit the throat of another.

A prosecution barrister told Judge Patricia Smyth that on the afternoon of the murder - 21 March 2020 - Mr Shah's 16-year old granddaughter had been visiting.

The family were watching TV when a resident entered the living room having just been stabbed in the chest by Lenaghan.

'You're dead, you're dead'

After calling 999, Mr Shah followed the wounded man outside to help him.

Mr Shah was then chased and set upon by Lenaghan, who was still armed with a knife.

The prosecuting barrister 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... [which] 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 mutilated and lifeless body."

Despite the efforts of the emergency services, Mr Shah was pronounced dead and a subsequent post-mortem examination indicated he had been stabbed 55 times.

'I did it'

Lenaghan, who was described as being "calm but out of it", returned to his accommodation covered in blood.

The court heard he told a resident, whom he had threatened earlier that day: "You'll end up like Shah there, dead in the street".

A short while later, when approached by police, Lenaghan said: "I did it. It's me you're looking for."

When police confirmed Mr Shah had died, Lenaghan swore and said "good".

Mr Shah's daughter also heard him shouting "happy days".

When arrested for murder, he was aggressive to officers and custody staff and during police interview he gave a largely "no comment" response.

Lenaghan later admitted murdering Mr Shah. He also admitted wounding one fellow resident and threatening to kill another on the same date.

'Wanton violence'

The prosecution barrister branded the attack as "callous", "gratuitous" and one where "wanton violence was inflicted on the victim".

The court also heard Lenaghan had a relevant criminal record for violent offences in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England.

Lenaghan's defence barrister said his client suffered from an acute, complex personality disorder which resulted in loss of control.

"He can't help himself...he is what he is", the barrister said.

He added that Lenaghan's disorder - coupled with alcohol intoxication on the day of the murder - played a "significant" role in what occurred.

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

Several of them had provided statements which spoke of Mr Shah's kind, loving and charitable nature and the void he had 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 would spent in prison before he was considered eligible for release.

She said this would be imposed at a later date.