Scottish gangsters shot dead in Costa del Sol bar were killed by 'rival gang hitman' apprehended in UK 'before fleeing to tax haven paradise island' - as Spanish cops detail his 'elaborate escape plan'

The gunman who shot dead Scots mobsters Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jr at a Costa del Sol pub was a member of a rival gang, Spanish police chiefs said last night.
Police Scotland had insisted days after the May 31 double murder they had no information to suggest the horror crimes were in any way linked to the gang feuding which has been going on there.
But Malaga-based Spanish police chief Pedro Agudo Novo today described the suspected killer arrested in Liverpool last Friday as a member of the Daniels gang which has long been at loggerheads with the Lyons gang the dead men belonged to.
The suspect has not been formally named by Spanish police although they confirmed today he is 'English and not Scottish', has been remanded in custody after a first court appearance as Spain continues to try to get him extradited.
The chief superintendent also revealed the dramatic arrest was made as detectives discovered the alleged gunman was about to flee his UK bolthole for a 'paradise island tax haven.'
Speaking at the first press conference Spanish police have held since Monaghan and Lyons Jr were shot dead at Monaghans Irish Bar in Fuengirola after the Champions League final, Mr Agudo Novo who heads up a provincial Judicial Police unit, said: 'The double murder was carried out by a professional killer and member of one of the victims' rival gangs.
'In this case we're not talking about an independent hired killer but an internal member of the rival Daniels gang who ends up assassinating two members of an enemy gang.
'I want to highlight the high level of professionalism of this individual. Not only did he walk up to the table where the victims were sitting and kill the first man before continuing with his mission when his gun jammed.
'It's not normal for a criminal to react the way he did in the face of this unexpected problem and resolve the situation to continue and pursue his second victim inside the bar and kill him.
'His escape was also a very professional one. It was clear he had previously studied all the cameras in the area and undertaken some other investigative procedures I can't go into at this stage.
'He had his escape route perfectly planned out, picking areas where there were a lack of cameras and at one point even entering a train tunnel and crossing the tracks because he knew he couldn't be filmed there.'
The police chief said 'Absolutely' when asked if he thought the suspect, now facing extradition to Spain and a double murder charge, had travelled from the UK to Spain to carry out his alleged crimes.
He added: 'His escape route involved travelling from Spain to Portugal and he then took a plane from Portugal to Leeds.
'Once he got to Leeds, with the support of his gang, he changed addresses three times.
'It took us four days to get an idea of who he was and another three, so seven days in total, to get a name for the man we wanted arrested.
'That's when we contacted the British police and asked a court in Fuengirola to issue an international arrest warrant.
'The last address the suspect was tracked down to was in Liverpool.
'We discovered that the day he was arrested he was planning to flee the UK for a paradise island, a tax haven with which there would have been no extradition treaty.'
Mr Agudo Novo was asked to name the destination but said he couldn't for 'operational reasons' as the investigation remained open and police were hopeful of making more arrests, although he said he believed the suspected gunman had 'acted alone.'
Colleague Juan Antonio Sillero, Chief Inspector of the specialist Udyco Costa del Sol police unit which also led the operation to track down the alleged double killer, said he believed both Monaghan and Lyons Jr were the intended targets and the operation to assassinate them was launched after their rivals received information on where they would be on May 31.
He said revenge killings couldn't be ruled out and they were doing 'everything possible' to avoid more bloodshed.
In a statement issued after this morning's press conference at the Spanish National Police HQ in Malaga, the force said: 'The investigation began when just before midnight on May 31 a man who was hiding his face behind a cap and a scarf round his neck opened fire against two people who had been sitting on the terrace of a pub in Fuengirola.
'The first shots fired killed one victim instantly. The second victim managed to escape after taking advantage of the moment the killer's gun jammed and took refuge inside the premises until he was hit again receiving two shots which ended his life.
'Afterwards the suspect fled the scene and crossed three borders in less than 15 hours.
'After leaving Spain he reached Portugal by land and from there took a flight to the UK.
'During his journey he changed his physical appearance, and even shaved his face completely, to avoid being recognised.
'Once he was in the UK, he hid in different residential dwellings to hamper the investigation and his subsequent investigation.'
Career criminal Monaghan, who fled Scotland for Spain after a failed attempt on his life outside a Glasgow primary school in 2017, was tried but acquitted over the murder of notorious Glasgow hood Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll at an Asda car park in 2010.
In August 2017 he and Eddie Lyons Jr, both members of the Lyons Glasgow crime family, were cleared of being involved in a brutal street attack on three men outside the Campsie bar in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire.
The Fuengirola pub murders followed the fatal shooting nearly seven weeks ago of a 32-year-old British man in nearby Calahonda a 15-minute drive from the Irish bar towards Marbella.
He was shot dead around 8pm on April 21 in a professional hit as he headed back to his car after finishing a football match with friends.
The killers fled in a getaway car that was later torched. Police are investigating the brutal assassination as a drug-related gang shooting but have yet to make any arrests.
The victim has not been named but was known to come from Liverpool.
Reports at the time described the incident as the fourth shooting so far that month on the Costa del Sol, where rival gangs have increasingly used extreme violence to settle scores and a number of international mafias are known to have a base.
Four days before the Calahonda shooting a 34-year-old man was rushed to the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella after being shot outside a nightclub in the famous Costa del Sol resort.
The May 31 shootings of Monaghan, 46, and Lyons Jr, 43, had been linked to the long-running feud between their gang and the Glasgow-based Lyons Crime Family.
In a statement released on June 3, Police Scotland made it clear it was not directly investigating the murders.
'The investigation into the fatal shootings in Fuengirola is being carried out by Spanish police,' it said.
'Police Scotland is supporting Spanish police where requested, however at this time we have no officers deployed within Spain.
'There is currently no intelligence to suggest the deaths of these two men in Spain are linked to the recent criminal attacks in Scotland being investigated as part of Operation Portaledge.
'Any misinformation or speculation linking the events in Spain are not helpful to the ongoing investigations in either country.
'There is also nothing to suggest that the shooting in Fuengirola was planned from within Scotland.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Scottish Sun

9 hours ago

• Scottish Sun

‘Hitman' accused of murdering gang kingpins Ross Monaghan & Eddie Lyons Junior in Spain will fight extradition

Michael Riley, 44, of Merseyside, appeared today at Westminster Magistrates Court as part of a bid to have him shipped to Spain Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ALLEGED hitman nicked over the murders of two Scots gangsters is to fight extradition - as he claimed he was being intimidated by onlookers in court. Michael Riley, 44, of Huyton, Liverpool, appeared today at Westminster Magistrates Court as part of a bid to have him shipped to Spain. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Eddie Lyons Jnr, left, and Ross Monaghan were shot dead in Spain on May 31 Cops there issued an international arrest warrant in connection with their probe into the May 31 murders of Ross Monaghan, 43, and Eddie Lyons Jnr, 46. Riley was apprehended by Merseyside police on June 13 under an international arrest warrant issued by the Spanish authorities last week. Riley was remanded in custody by magistrates on Saturday after he was deemed a flight risk. He appeared at the London court via videolink from HMP Wandsworth yesterday but due to technical difficulties the hearing could not go ahead effectively. He appeared in person wearing a grey, prison-issued tracksuit and spoke to confirm his name and date of birth. Riley was asked today by the court clerk if he wished to give consent to be extradited back to Spain, to which he said: 'No, I do not.' Riley's extradition hearing will be on October 9 at Westminster Magistrates court and is expected to last all day. Judge John Bristow said: 'As you know, Mr Riley, your extradition is sought by Spain, you have not consented to your extradition, so there is going to be a hearing on October 9. 'If you don't come to that hearing, it can proceed without you. That would mean you would not get the chance to tell your side of the story. 'You are not applying for bail today, so I am going to remand you in custody. 'Your next appearance will be on July 18, where on that occasion you will be on live television link.' Riley accused a member of the public in the public gallery of staring at him and making funny faces. He shouted: 'Stop looking at me' as he was led back to the cells. We told how the Lyons gang kingpins were drinking in Monaghans bar after watching the Champions League Cup final when they were gunned down. A hooded assassin was captured on CCTV storming the boozer and shooting both men dead in front of horrified holiday makers and staff. We told how cops in Spain and Scotland gave conflicting information over who is believed to have ordered the double assassination. Police Scotland first insisted three days after the slaughter they had 'no intelligence' to suggest the murders were connected to an ongoing turf war here. However, at a sensational press conference in Malaga their Spain counterparts said the man they want extradited over the killings was 'an internal member of the rival Daniel gang'. Malaga-based police chief Pedro Agudo Novo told reporters: "The double murder was carried out by a professional killer and member of one of the victims' rival gangs. "In this case we're not talking about an independently hired killer but an internal member of the rival Daniel gang who ends up assassinating two members of an enemy gang." That prompted the Scottish force to repeat their insistence there is no Daniel link to the slayings - a position also held by members of Monaghan's family. A relative of the murdered mob boss said earlier this month: 'The one thing people need to know is the Daniels are not behind this.' Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said: "We are not aware of any current evidence which suggests the deaths of these two men in Spain are linked to criminal attacks in Scotland being investigated as part of Operation Portaledge.' We told how a captured mobile phone holds the key to proving the assassinations in Spain of two Scots crime kingpins are linked to their Daniel gang rivals, sources claim. Cops are understood to have seized the mobile from an alleged hitman suspected of shooting dead the duo. Insiders say it contains data allegedly linking Riley, 44, to Daniel hoods who Spanish detectives reckon are behind the double slaying. Career criminal Monaghan – who fled Scotland for Spain after a failed attempt on his life in 2017 – was tried but acquitted over the murder of notorious Glasgow hood Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll at an Asda car park in 2010. In August 2017 he and Eddie Lyons Jr, both members of the Lyons Glasgow crime family, were cleared of being involved in a brutal street attack on three men outside the Campsie bar in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire. Their deaths come amid an ongoing turf war in Scotland that's resulted in 48 arrests as part of Police Scotland's Operation Portaledge. The gangland carnage in Edinburgh and Glasgow began in March amid claims Dubai-based hood Ross 'Miami' McGill, 31, of East Kilbride sought revenge after blaming associates of caged capital kingpin Mark Richardson, 38, for using fake notes in a dodgy £500,000 cocaine deal.

Scottish Sun

10 hours ago

• Scottish Sun

Spain boozer where Scots gangsters were shot dead reopens under new name

Monaghans in Fuengirola will welcome punters again after a new bar boss stepped in to run the newly-named Irish Rover ROVERS RETURN Spain boozer where Scots gangsters were shot dead reopens under new name Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE BOOZER where two Scots hoods were shot dead in a gangland bloodbath has reopened under a new name - three weeks after the Spain massacre. Monaghans bar in Fuengirola will welcome punters again after a new bar boss stepped in to run the newly-named Irish Rover. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Monaghans ber pictured before the murders of Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr 5 A message posted on the bar's Facebook page reveals plans to reopen. 5 Eddie Lyons Jnr 5 Ross Monaghan Credit: The Scottish Sun A message on the pub's social media reveals the new landlord is looking forward to pulling pints at the beachside sports bar where Lyons gang kingpins Ross Monaghan, 43, and Eddie Lyons Jnr, 46, were slaughtered. A post read: 'The Rover Returns! Join Clive and all the team when the doors open this coming weekend at the new Irish Rover! 'Clive, a well known pub landlord in the area, with over 26 years in the game decided to give it another go, and looks forward to welcoming his customers old and new on his new adventure!' The relaunch comes after we revealed workers have removed the sign named after murdered Monaghan whose alleged killer now faces an extradition fight. Workers removed foot-high gold lettering spelling out his surname just 12 days after he and fellow Scots gangster Lyons were assassinated on the Costa del Sol. Pictures showed a specials board advertising home-made soup lying on a table inside, as well as a branded banner and parasols that previously stood on the terrace. A source said at the time: 'No-one knows if they are planning to re-open, but it does look like there's been some work done to the property.' Monaghan's involvement in the business prompted Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay to call for tighter controls to stop mobsters using supposedly respectable firms to launder dirty cash. He said: 'The Spanish and Scottish authorities should be asking how a known member of a major international drugs gang appeared to have the ownership of a prominent business which literally had his name above the door? 'A guy like that should never have had the ability to put his name on assets for which the only source of funding has been drugs.' Spanish cops insist hitman who executed Ross Monaghan & Eddie Lyons Jr killer WAS member of rival Daniel clan The Lyons gang kingpins had been part of a group watching the Champions League footie final on May 31 when the killer struck. Graphic CCTV footage aired by Spanish broadcasters showed Monaghan crawling on his hands and knees in a bid to flee the hitman, before collapsing against a wall. The horrifying film shows blood from a wound near his heart soaking through his white t-shirt. 5 CCTV shown on Spanish TV captured the moment the shooter storms in. We told how a captured mobile phone holds the key to proving the assassinations in Spain of two Scots crime kingpins are linked to their Daniel gang rivals, sources claim. Cops are understood to have seized the mobile from an alleged hitman suspected of shooting dead the duo. Insiders say it contains data allegedly linking Michael Riley, 44, to Daniel hoods who Spanish detectives reckon are behind the double slaying. Crimefighters appear at odds over who ordered the hit - with Scots officers insisting there is 'no intelligence' linking it to the gangland turf war here.

BBC News

11 hours ago

• BBC News

Spanish bar where Scottish crime figures were shot dead to reopen

A Spanish bar where two senior figures from Scottish crime group were shot dead is to reopen this weekend under a new Monaghan, 43, and Eddie Lyons Jnr, 46, were murdered at Monaghans bar in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol on 31 to the venue's Facebook page, the beachfront pub - which is understood to have have been co-owned by Monaghan - will now be called The Irish Riley, 44, has been accused by Spanish police of the murders with a full extradition hearing scheduled for later this year. Mongahan and Lyons Jnr were targeted by a lone gunman in front of friends and customers after watching the Champions League were linked to the Lyons crime group, which is based in the west of to the Spanish National Police, the suspect's gun jammed after he killed Lyons Jnr with a single shot outside the then pursued Monaghan inside and fired two more shots which proved Tuesday, a senior Spanish National Police officer highlighted the "professionalism" of the shootings and the suspect's "perfectly planned" escape from Supt Pedro Agudo Novo also alleged that the killer was a member of the Daniel crime Lyons and Daniel families and their criminal associates have been engaged in a violent feud which dates back more than two decades. Since March, individuals linked to the Daniel group have been targeted in a wave of gangland attacks in the east and west of Scotland News understands that investigators in Spain and in Scotland were surprised by Chief Supt Agudo Novo's public position of Scottish detectives is that there is no evidence linking the shootings to the Daniel response to Chief Supt Novo's comments, Police Scotland repeated the carefully-worded statement they issued three days after the force said there was still "no current evidence" to suggest events in Fuengirola were linked to the ongoing violence in Scotland, or that they had been "orchestrated from Scotland".Last Friday, Michael Riley was arrested on an international arrest warrant in the Liverpool area in connection with the Riley appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London via videolink from HMP Wandsworth on has not been charged and as yet has had no opportunity to respond to allegations made about him by Spanish National Police.