OMEN
02-11-2009, 11:22 PM
A 19-year-old Co Clare man has been found guilty of the manslaughter of a teenager at in June 2007.
John McGovern of Barefield, Ennis stabbed 14-year-old Michael Doherty, a member of the Traveller community, outside a fast food outlet in Ennis in June 2007.
The family of John McGovern were with him for the duration of this week long trial.
John McGovern Snr is a member of the Garda Traffic Corps in Ennis.
Supt John Scanlon said there would be no statement from the gardai until after sentencing.
The parents of Michael Doherty, Nora and John were joined in court by a large number of supporters from the Traveller community.
On the opening day of the trial Counsel for the State, John O'Kelly told the jury how an argument between two groups of teenagers on a Saturday night in Ennis developed into a fight that had catastrophic and tragic consequences.
Giving evidence, teenage eye-witnesses told how John McGovern Jr had called out 'knacker' twice to Michael Doherty as he was entering Supermacs on O'Connell St.
One of the teenagers, Derek Malone, said the remark was aimed at Michael Doherty because, as he said, he was the 'only traveller fella' there.
The court heard how the dead teenager was a competent boxer and that after he and John McGovern Jr had pushed and thumped one another, McGovern fell to the ground.
He got up again and attempts were made to separate the two.
The court was told that McGovern lunged forward and had a Swiss army knife in his hand.
Michael Doherty then collapsed.
The jury heard how he had died from a single stab wound to the chest.
Later John McGovern Jr told gardai how he had just swung out and did not know if he had stabbed anyone.
He said he was very sorry.
It took the jury of four women and eight men at the Central Criminal Court in Ennis just over three and half hours to return a majority verdict.
Judge Paul Carney will sentence McGovern on 30 March.
RTE
John McGovern of Barefield, Ennis stabbed 14-year-old Michael Doherty, a member of the Traveller community, outside a fast food outlet in Ennis in June 2007.
The family of John McGovern were with him for the duration of this week long trial.
John McGovern Snr is a member of the Garda Traffic Corps in Ennis.
Supt John Scanlon said there would be no statement from the gardai until after sentencing.
The parents of Michael Doherty, Nora and John were joined in court by a large number of supporters from the Traveller community.
On the opening day of the trial Counsel for the State, John O'Kelly told the jury how an argument between two groups of teenagers on a Saturday night in Ennis developed into a fight that had catastrophic and tragic consequences.
Giving evidence, teenage eye-witnesses told how John McGovern Jr had called out 'knacker' twice to Michael Doherty as he was entering Supermacs on O'Connell St.
One of the teenagers, Derek Malone, said the remark was aimed at Michael Doherty because, as he said, he was the 'only traveller fella' there.
The court heard how the dead teenager was a competent boxer and that after he and John McGovern Jr had pushed and thumped one another, McGovern fell to the ground.
He got up again and attempts were made to separate the two.
The court was told that McGovern lunged forward and had a Swiss army knife in his hand.
Michael Doherty then collapsed.
The jury heard how he had died from a single stab wound to the chest.
Later John McGovern Jr told gardai how he had just swung out and did not know if he had stabbed anyone.
He said he was very sorry.
It took the jury of four women and eight men at the Central Criminal Court in Ennis just over three and half hours to return a majority verdict.
Judge Paul Carney will sentence McGovern on 30 March.
RTE