Noel Lenihan jailed for Galway manslaughter

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Noel Lenihan was sentenced to four years in prison for manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court, reported on 25 November 2019. The offence occurred at his home in Galway on 12 March 2017, where Christopher McGrath suffered fatal stab wounds. Lenihan had been charged with murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and the plea was accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Justice Michael White said Lenihan had acted in self-defence but used excessive force. The court heard that McGrath had entered Lenihan’s home after finding no available bed at a homeless hostel. Lenihan had no previous convictions and was given credit for his guilty plea, ill health and remorse. The judge imposed the four-year prison sentence.