Garda's son jailed for Traveller manslaughter

A garda’s son has been sentenced to six years in prison for the manslaughter of a 14-year-old Traveller boy in Ennis almost two years ago. He was found guilty of the crime while being cleared of murder during a trial in February.

John McGovern (aged 19), of Ballyduff, Barefield, Ennis killed Michael Doherty of Ashline, Ennis on June 23, 2007 with the Swiss army knife his grandparents gave him. He received a concurrent three-year sentence for producing a knife during the course of a fight.