An Edinburgh drug baron who fled from an open prison was warned his life was in danger before he went on the run, underworld sources claim.
Sean “Lugs” McGovern absconded from HMP Castle Huntly, near Dundee, on Sunday, and sparked a police manhunt. Sources say the 39-year-old was handed a “threat to life” notice – commonly known as an Osman letter – a matter of days before he vanished, reports the Daily Record.
These warnings are issued to individuals when cops discover that someone wants to kill them, but do not have enough evidence to make an arrest. Seven years ago, McGovern was targeted in a horrifying slashing in Edinburgh's city centre while about to return to prison after home leave.
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Two hitmen set upon him with blades, witnessed by a Record reporter and photographer, before fleeing in a Skoda. David Togher, the right-hand man of Edinburgh cocaine kingpin Mark Richardson, 36, was later jailed for six years for his role in the ambush.
“He’s in Castle Huntly because he’s not far from being released. To take such a drastic step and risk having his time in jail extended shows he thinks the threat is real.”
McGovern was sentenced to 17 years in jail after firing two rounds from a shotgun outside the Gauntlet Bar, in Broomhouse, Edinburgh, in 2008. He got six years and nine months for the gun attack and 10 years for running a heroin empire in the capital.
On July 27, 2016, McGovern was dropped off in Waterloo Place by his fiancée so he could board a G4S security vehicle back to Castle Huntly. The two men pounced on him in a street busy with shoppers and tourists.
McGovern slumped to the ground and was later helped into an ambulance with his head, neck and left hand bandaged. Togher, 37, admitted assaulting him and was jailed in 2017.
At his trial judge Lord Turnbull heard McGovern had refused to help police, but Togher’s QC said there was bad blood between the men. Mark Stewart, defending, told the court: “He makes no bones about it – he had a historical difference with Mr McGovern that led to this incident.
“He became aware Mr McGovern was at liberty and accepts his conduct as described.”
Ex-squaddie Togher was formerly jailed, in 2009, for his part in a major drugs gang in the capital. Police Scotland have warned the public not to approach McGovern.
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