‘He was a loved and loving son’

MAUREEN and Martin McGowan struggled to hold back tears as they proudly held up a picture of their son in his graduation robes for photographers outside the Four Courts.

Their relief at the sentence was matched only by their sadness at having lost their 22-year-old son, described as vibrant, popular and full of life.

They couldn’t bring themselves to talk to the waiting media but their solicitor let it be known how happy and relieved they were that justice had been done.

Through him, they strongly defended their son’s character against “slurs on his good name raised by those two men, who didn’t even call for an ambulance as he lay bleeding on the ground”.

“Do not, please, rely on the word of two convicted criminals. Hear instead the views of his boss at Eagle Star, who wrote that Liam had made many friends in his short time with the company, was extremely popular and had a very promising career in front of him.

“Listen to those who knew him best when we say: Liam was a loved and loving son, brother and friend. He did not deserve to die... His memory deserves that we say this as loudly as we can. Liam was a victim; he did nothing wrong, may he rest in peace.”