Gangland thug flees to Spain amid fears of being targeted in another underworld hit
Sean "Lugs" McGovern, sworn enemy of Edinburgh crime boss Mark Richardson, has fled to Spain.
Gangland thug Sean 'Lugs' McGovern has fled to the Costa Del Sol amid fears of being targeted in another underworld hit.
McGovern, 41, quit for a fresh start in Spain after recently being released from jail.
Sources claim he was even hanging out with hood Ross Monaghan before he was fatally gunned down last month alongside Eddie Lyons Jnr.
Drug dealer McGovern is a sworn enemy of Edinburgh crime boss Mark Richardson and was brutally slashed by his gang during a home visit in 2016.
A source said: 'Lugs couldn't be bothered with all the hassle in Edinburgh and didn't want to be constantly looking over his shoulder.
'After being slashed a few years back, he knows Richardson doesn't mess about. His son is being brought up by Richardson's brother, so the issues will never go away.
'He's gone to Spain and is making contacts over there. After spending the best part of 16 years inside, he's enjoying freedom in the sunshine. He was even spotted hanging about with Monaghan before he was killed. They enjoyed a mutual hatred of Richardson, so it's no surprise they became pals.'
In a recent snap, McGovern is seen enjoying a beer with his gang of cronies in an Irish bar.
In 2016, he was targeted in the slashing in Edinburgh city centre while about to return to prison after home leave. Two hitmen set upon him with blades – witnessed by a Daily Record reporter and photographer – before fleeing in a Skoda.
One of Richardson's chief lieutenants was later jailed for six years for his role in the ambush. McGovern spent nine days on the run after fleeing from an open jail almost two years ago.
A description issued by police included details of the scar left on his face after the 2016 attack.
He was caged for 16 years in 2009 after admitting heroin dealing and a gun attack on an Edinburgh pub. After early release in 2018, he was ordered to do 80 hours of unpaid work for spitting on a prison guard.
He was then hauled back to jail after smashing up his phone as police looked on.
Richardson, 38, is at the centre of an ongoing gangland feud with Dubai-based Mr Big, Ross McGill. It has led to multiple firebombings and violent attacks in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
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