Barefield man John McGovern will find out next week if he’s been successful in overturning his manslaughter conviction.
The 20 year old is appealing his six year sentence and conviction for killing Ennis schoolboy Michael Doherty outside Supermacs on O’Connell Street in June 2007.
John McGovern’s appeal was heard on June 22nd – the day before the third anniversary of 14 year old Michael Doherty, of Ashline Ennis, who died from stab wounds following an altercation with the young Barefield man in 2007
McGovern was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter and was also convicted of producing a knife
He was jailed for six years for the killing and received a three-year concurrent sentence for the knife charge.
His appeal was based on what was described as conflicting evidence in the somewhat confusing trial and on the suggestion that the trial judge failed to explain self-defence.
However, the director of Public Prosecutions opposed the appeal stating that clear explanations and directions had been given to the jury
Reserved Judgement by the three judge court, is now due to be delivered next Wednesday July 21st.
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