During his sentencing hearing the judge said McGovern is a “senior lieutenant and long time member of the Kinahan organised crime group”.
McGovern was also described as a “senior front line operative” and a “confidante” of those in the upper echelons of the organisation.
Even though McGovern was “not at the most senior level”, he was a senior trusted lieutenant for the organisation in Ireland.
The judge said McGovern had a “significant role” in the murder of Kirwan, who was not involved in crime and that he had “planned, oversaw and directed” the murder.
Kirwan was targeted because he was photographed at a funeral of a member of the Hutch organised crime group.
The bloody feud between the Hutch and Kinahan organised crime groups claimed several lives.
Kirwan was targeted because he lived in an area which was “easily accessible” to the Kinahan group and was a friend of the Hutch family, the court heard on Monday.
The judge said Kirwan was selected in a way which was “callous and cruel” and encrypted messages showed McGovern suggested he be targeted to give “confidence” in carrying out further attacks.
The encrypted text from McGovern to another member of the Kinahan group, which was read out to the court during the sentencing hearing, read: “Putting the teeth on duck to get his confidence back”.
In relation to a planned attack on Gately, the judge said McGovern monitored tracking devices and planned how to target Gately.
The court took into account McGovern’s guilty plea when deciding how many years McGovern should serve in prison.
