A talented runner who was stabbed to death by a family friend had spent his youth protecting his younger siblings, the Central Criminal Court has heard.

Christopher McGrath’s (38) family wept in court as his sisters remembered how he had protected them from their mother as he “took the brunt” of her “fierce temper”.

Mr McGrath’s killer, Noel Lenihan (67), from Mervue in Co Galway, was charged with murder but pleaded guilty earlier this year to his manslaughter on March 12, 2017 at Lenihan’s home. The plea was accepted by the DPP and Justice Michael White heard evidence ahead of sentencing.

The court heard that Mr McGrath had previously been in an intimate relationship with his killer. The court also heard that Mr McGrath made for Lenihan’s house on the night of his death after he could not get a room at a homeless shelter.

The deceased’s sister Jessica McGrath told Mr Justice White that her mother was mentally unstable and “aimed her fierce temper at her children”.

She said she is traumatised by his death and particularly that it was at the hands of a man who was considered a family friend. She said she remembered Lenihan coming to the house when she was a child and handing out sweets. As children they “latched onto any kindness that was shown”.

Mr McGrath’s half-sister Sylvia O’Connor remembered Christopher looking out for her and him as a “brilliant athlete” who won multiple medals for cross country running.

Earlier, Det Insp Michael Coppinger said in 2017 Lenihan, who worked as a martial arts instructor, lived at Mervue with his brother Thomas.

On March 12, at some time after 4am, Galway emergency services received a call in which the accused man said he had stabbed Mr McGrath “in fear” after Mr McGrath came in through his back door and threatened him.

Gardaí found Mr McGrath lying in a pool of blood and showing no signs of life.

CCTV footage showed Lenihan in a hotel in Galway on that evening. Mr McGrath was outside and Lenihan may have brought a pint out to him on at least one occasion.

Insp Coppinger said the deceased may, at that time, have been homeless and had a history of difficulties with drugs and alcohol. He said he would sometimes stay at the accused man’s house and the two had previously had an intimate relationship.

Mr McGrath tried to get into a homeless shelter but they didn’t have a room for him.

Giollaiosa O’Lideadha SC, for Lenihan, said his client had written an apology to his victim’s family, who he spoke of as being like a second family to him. Lenihan wrote: “It breaks my heart to think I have devastated the whole family by taking Christopher away.”

Mr Justice White put sentencing back to November 25 to consider the matter.

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