A TEENAGER was today caged for at least 15 years for the murder of a 17-year-old by stabbing him in the back.

Steven McIntyre,19, killed Jack Doyle, of Rose Street, Greenock, on January 3, in Antigua Street, Greenock.

The court heard that the single stab wound went through Jack’s liver and severed two main blood vessels and he bled to death.

Callous McIntyre was playing with his X-box just hours after Jack died.

Yesterday at the High Court in Glasgow temporary judge Sean Murphy QC told Steven McIntyre that he would be detained without limit of time.

Judge Murphy added: “You are a young man and Jack Doyle was also a young man.

“It is depressing to not that by the age of 18 you had been convicted of assault on four occasionss.

“There is no suggestion you armed yourself that night or set out looking for trouble.

“That night it was Jack Doyle who was showing a knife to others. You chased Jack Doyle and thern stabbed him through the heart.

“You have destroyed the young life of another person. Jack Doyle didn’t live to see his sister married.”

Co-accused Kevin McIntyre, 28, who had admitted horrifically slashing Jack on the face just minutes before he was murdered was jauled for five years and six months.

Judge Murphy said: “He would have been disfigured for life if he had not died shortly asfterwards.”

He described the injuries inflicted on Jack as “hideous.”

Kevin McIntyre’s defence QC Brian McConnachie said that he was remorseful and found it difficult to even look at photographs of the the injuries he had inflicted.

As the sentences were passed members of Jack Doyle’s family shouted they were a “joke”, but, they refused to comment as they left court.

This is the second time that tragedy has struck the Doyle family from Greenock. His aunt Elaine Doyle was just 16-years-old when she was murdered on June 1, 1986.

Her semi-naked body was discovered in a lane in just yards from her home in Ardgowan Street, Greenock. She had been strangled. Her killer has never been brought to justice, although her death has been subject to a cold case review and was also featured on BBC’s Crimewatch programme.

During his trial Steven McIntyre claimed that he had acted in self-defence and defence QC Derek Ogg said he still maintained that position.

In evidence he said: “I was terrified and never meant to do it,” but the jury didn’t believe his story..

Jack and his killer met at a party in Antigua Street. The court was told that Jack had taken a knife with him which was tucked into the waistband of his trousers and that he had “flashed it” a couple of times.

It was alleged during the trial that at one point Jack left the flat and shouted up, challenging the occupants to a fight.

Seconds later he was assaulted by Steven McIntyre’s co-accused Kevin McIntyre, 28, who was also originally charged with Jack’s murder, pled guilty during the trial to a much reduced charge of assaulting him.

Kevin McIntyre slashed Jack twice on the right side of his face.

Steven McIntyre then confronted Jack who had blood pouring from his face and stabbed him once.

The court was told that Jack’s injury was survivable if he had received immediate medical attention.