Sean McGovern was left pouring with blood by the slashing
David Togher was today locked up for six years for knifing violent heroin baron, Sean 'Lugs' McGovern in broad daylight in Edinburgh city centre.
The revenge attack happened as McGovern, 32, was returning from home leave to prison, where he is serving 17 years for a shooting and drug crimes.
The slashing was witnessed by a reporter and photographer from the Daily Record newspaper who saw McGovern run after the hitmen as they fled to a waiting Skoda.
He then slumped to the ground and was helped into an ambulance with his head, neck and left hand bandaged.
Distinctive cycling gear worn by Togher, 31, during the attack help police find him. He admitted endangering McGovern's life through assault.
A judge heard McGovern refused to help police – but Togher’s QC said there was bad blood between the men.
Ex-squaddie, Togher was jailed in 2009 for his part in a major drugs gang in the capital.
Lord Turnbull told him: “The victim was a serving prisoner who was an enemy of yours.”
He described the slashing as “pre-meditated and calculated”.
McGovern was at the end of a week’s home leave from HMP Castle Huntly, near Dundee, when he was attacked last July 27.
His fiancee, Jade Cameron dropped him off in Waterloo Place so he could board a G4S security vehicle back to jail.
As he got out of his lover’s Mercedes, Togher and an accomplice raced towards him from a stolen Skoda Rapid. It is thought they had tailed him.
Prosecutor, Bernard Ablett told the High Court in Glasgow: “Both were wearing cycling tops, gloves, caps, sunglasses and snoods partially covering their faces. Togher and the other man were in possession of knives.”
McGovern was struck on the head and face with the blades. Then Togher and his friend sprinted back to their car. As McGovern chased, they yelled to the driver: “Open the f***ing door.”
The pair jumped in the car and fled.
McGovern’s girlfriend and passers-by went to his aid. He was taken to hospital but Ablett said: “He refused to cooperate with police.”
Medics believe he should make a full recovery.
The stolen getaway car was torched near a cycle path in the capital’s Duddingston.
Police got an anonymous tip-off that Togher, of Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, was involved. His home was raided but he was not there.
Officers studied the distinctive tops worn by Togher and his accomplice.
It was discovered the cycling clothes had been bought at a branch of Halfords a week before the attack. CCTV caught Togher and another man in the store.
Togher was eventually held on August 8 at a caravan park in East Lothian but made no comment to the allegations.
Mark Stewart, defending, said: “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.”
Lord Turnbull told Togher the jail term would have been eight years if not for the guilty plea.
Togher – who served in Iraq – is a former second-in-command of a drugs gang run by Edinburgh cocaine kingpin, Mark Richardson.
The gang were linked to a spate of shootings in Edinburgh in 2008 during a feud with rival dealers, including McGovern.
Togher was jailed for more than five years in 2009 after police seized £450,000 of cocaine.
Police are still hunting Richardson in connection with the knifing.
McGovern is behind bars after firing two rounds from a shotgun outside the Gauntlet Bar in Broomhouse, Edinburgh, in 2008.
He was sentenced to six years and nine months for the gun attack and 10 years for running a heroin empire in Edinburgh.
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