THE GIRLFRIEND of a man shot dead while he was sleeping in his home in Cavan last year has told a jury at the Central Criminal Court that the accused man was the assailant.
Nicole Lennon (20) told the court that she had been asleep beside her partner, Darren McGrath (33), at their home in Belturbet, Co Cavan, when she woke up and saw a man standing above her.
The man’s face was partially concealed and he was carrying a shotgun, the court heard.
Trevor McCabe (34), Mountpleasant, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr McGrath in Belturbet, Co Cavan on May 20th last year.
Ms Lennon told the court that she had been living with Mr McGrath and their thirteen-month old daughter at the house in Belturbet for two years.
On May 19th, the night before the alleged murder, she was in the house, cooking dinner, the court heard.
Mr McGrath had gone out. He returned with his brother, Adam.
The court heard that Ms Lennon and Mr McGrath watched a DVD in their bedroom before falling asleep.
She slept on the side of the bed near the door while Mr McGrath slept on the side near the window, the court heard.
Ms Lennon said that she woke up to a person standing over her.
She “looked at Darren and heard a bang”.
“I was just terrified,” she said.
Ms Lennon told the court that the assailant was Mr McCabe.
She said he was wearing a mask which concealed his face from the nose down. The nose and eyes were visible, she said.
“After the first shot, Darren’s arm came up. Trevor [McCabe] leaned over me to get closer to Darren’s head, with the second shot.” The weapon was a double barrel shotgun, the court heard.
“I just looked at Darren and there was blood everywhere.” Ms Lennon “jumped out of bed and called 999”.
The murder occurred at approximately 5am, the court heard.
Ms Lennon told said she knew Mr McCabe prior to the murder.
The accused was at her and Mr McGrath’s daughter’s christening and was there when the baby was born, the court heard.
During cross-examination, Ms Lennon told Peter Finlay SC, defending, that she did not know if her partner had had any enemies.
The trial continues.