Irishman stabbed in Spain knew John George and ‘had info on murder'
Belfast man told Spanish cops he knows attacker's identity but refuses to name them
An Irishman stabbed in Spain last Sunday was previously named as having knowledge about the murder of John George, we can reveal.
Dan McMeekin (29) was viciously attacked with a knife in the Costa Orihuela area of the Costa Blanca. He had previously admitted online he should have contacted the family of John George before the 37-year-old was murdered.
According to reports in Spain McMeekin, a self-confessed drug addict from the outskirts of west Belfast, was attacked in the early hours of Sunday in La Zenia, near Torrevieja.
Despite local news reports stating there were 'pools of blood' found at the scene of the early morning attack, he survived the shocking incident and has been recovering in hospital.
It has also been reported in the press in Spain that the authorities have revealed McMeekin told them he knew who had stabbed him but that he would not be telling them.
They also revealed McMeekin has a criminal record and it's well known he has a series of convictions for domestic abuse against a former partner.
Dan McMeekin in Spain
McMeekin, who is known to be extremely vulnerable due to substance abuse issues, became a target of social media trolls and amateur investigators after the murder of John George.
McMeekin knew John George well and was in a bar in Spain where it's claimed a plan was hatched to attack the Belfast man who was later found murdered.
The father of two was shot and his body was left in a rural area in the Alicante region around December 14 but his body wasn't discovered for several weeks.
Supporters of John George and his family believe Dan McMeekin has information relevant to the investigation. However, he has never been arrested or charged with anything.
In January Belfast lawyers acting for the family of John George named Dan McMeekin as being one of two men who was due to appear in court in Spain – not as suspects but to tell the court what they knew about the lead-up to the murder.
Dan McMeekin is recovering in hospital after last Sunday's knife attack in Torrevieja
Two weeks after John George's body was found, Belfast legal firm KRW Law said on January 31: 'We can confirm that summonses have issued for the attendance of two persons to answer enquiries in relation to the murder of Mr George. We have been in touch with the authorities in connection with this latest development.
'We understand that each person was originally due to appear at the designated Preliminary Court sitting in Torrevieja, Spain on Wednesday 29 January 2025 at 930am but are now expected to appear on Friday 31 January 2025 in the same court.
'We are advised the two specified persons are identified as Michael Maly and Daniel Anthony McMeekin.
'The family now face an anxious wait to learn what each individual has to say. They are calling upon them to take what they say is 'a final chance to come clean' on the lead-up to and the circumstances surrounding their son's murder before Christmas last year...'
The family of John George arrive back in Belfast
Czech national Michael Maly was later arrested and appeared in court as a murder suspect but was released on bail and has yet to be charged with any offence.
Meanwhile 27-year-old Newtownabbey man Jonny Smyth was eventually arrested in Portugal having gone on the run before being extradited back to Spain where he has also been named as a suspect and held on remand in prison – but like Maly has not yet been charged with any offence.
Sources say Jonny Smyth had helped Dan McMeekin after finding him in Spain in a bad way on drugs.
Jonny Smyth
But Smyth turned on Dan and gave him a beating after it's claimed he found Dan doing cocaine in the apartment Smyth shared with his partner – now wife – Madison.
McMeekin has been in jail back home in Northern Ireland several times and was convicted of a number of nasty domestic abuse offences.
He was described as a drug addict during several appearances in various courtrooms where it emerged he had attacked the same partner a number of times and that the pair were both vulnerable and suffered from substance and alcohol abuse issues.
We can also reveal that McMeekin's images have been plastered all over social media in Spain where it's claimed he is a suspect in a number of burglaries.
Pictures appearing to show him inside business premises late at night were shared widely.
Those claiming he is a suspect have pointed to his very distinctive tattoo he has on his left hand which is clearly visible.
McMeekin posted a video to his Facebook page back in January where he was visibly upset and appeared to be high on drugs or drink.
He was responding to wild speculation on social media and named one TikToker who he felt was not telling the truth about him and what he knew or didn't know about John George.
Slurring his words, he says: 'I am doing my best to help in so many ways... I am guilty, guilty of not telling the family sooner. I am vulnerable, this is breaking me, I have a heart, I do.
'The truth will be told, what I know is fact. It's been a hard time, I have helped. There's a lot of yous who don't know about the good I have done so stop going by social media and stop jumping to conclusions.
'I know what the family is going through, please stop jumping to conclusions, I am helping.'
Murder victim John George
The attack on Dan McMeekin comes during a spate of violence on the Spanish coast after a number of murders and shootings of British and Irish ex-pats various parts of the Spanish coast.
The attack on him unfolded at around 1.30am on Calle Jalon, a shadowy street running parallel to the Las Estacas Rambla, just a stone's throw from the bustling La Zenia Boulevard shopping centre.
It is very near to where another Irishman was shot in the head some weeks ago in what police suspected was a settling of scores between rival gangs.
There is no suggestion yet that the two cases are linked.
Dan McMeekin was found by local police bleeding heavily, having been stabbed in the street.
Officers administered first aid at the scene before paramedics rushed him to Torrevieja Hospital, where he remained under care.
John George and Dan McMeekin
News in 90 Seconds - June 22nd
The Sunday World has reached out to McMeekin but has not had a response. It's not clear if he has been released from hospital.
The Guardia Civil's Judicial Police have opened an investigation, and the area around the attack remained cordoned off into Sunday morning, with blood stains still visible on the ground.
This is the second serious incident involving Irish nationals in La Zenia in recent days, prompting unease among locals and authorities alike.
In May, a 21-year-old Irishman was shot and seriously wounded nearby. That attack led to the arrest of two fellow Irishmen, aged 27 and 45.
One, accused of pulling the trigger, is now behind bars without bail; the other was released with conditions, including a travel ban, as an alleged accomplice.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Married ex-prison officer jailed for filming sex with lag in cell shows off cryptic new tattoo as she enjoys freedom
AN ex-prison officer who had sex with a lag in a cell smiles after being freed from jail — sporting a new 'love' tattoo. Advertisement 10 Smiling Linda de Sousa Abreu laps up the sun in shorts, sports bra and polka-dot bandana Credit: Splash 10 De Sousa Abreu showed off her new neck tattoo saying 'Amor', which is Spanish for 'love' 10 De Sousa Abreu was filmed romping with lag Linton Weirich at Wandsworth jail Credit: Central News The married former guard — released after serving five months of a 15-month sentence — had a new neck inking saying 'Amor', which is Spanish for 'love'. We revealed last year that she was filmed romping with lag Linton Weirich, while ignoring messages on her radio , at Wandsworth jail, South West London. She was spotted on Saturday near her home in London . A neighbour said: 'It doesn't look like what has happened has impacted her at all. Advertisement Read more on Linda de Sousa 'She looks like she is loving life. 'She's smiling, enjoying the sun and got a new tattoo. 'I think she will try and launch a new career making the most of the fame she got.' 10 Former guard De Sousa Abreu was released after serving five months of a 15-month sentence Credit: Metropolitan Police Advertisement 10 De Sousa Abreu was spotted on Saturday near her home in Fulham, West London Credit: Splash 10 A neighbour believes De Sousa Abreu will try and 'launch a new career making the most of her fame' In the Most read in The Sun A month earlier, the Advertisement De Sousa Abreu was She was 10 Linda was jailed in January after admitting misconduct in public office Credit: Splash 10 De Sousa Abreu was arrested at Heathrow as she tried to board a flight to Madrid Advertisement 10 In the shocking video, De Sousa Abreu can be heard saying 'this is how we live at Wandsworth' 10 A neighbour revealed how it 'doesn't look like what happened has impacted her at all'
Sunday World
8 hours ago
- Sunday World
Irishman stabbed in Spain knew John George and ‘had info on murder'
Belfast man told Spanish cops he knows attacker's identity but refuses to name them An Irishman stabbed in Spain last Sunday was previously named as having knowledge about the murder of John George, we can reveal. Dan McMeekin (29) was viciously attacked with a knife in the Costa Orihuela area of the Costa Blanca. He had previously admitted online he should have contacted the family of John George before the 37-year-old was murdered. According to reports in Spain McMeekin, a self-confessed drug addict from the outskirts of west Belfast, was attacked in the early hours of Sunday in La Zenia, near Torrevieja. Despite local news reports stating there were 'pools of blood' found at the scene of the early morning attack, he survived the shocking incident and has been recovering in hospital. It has also been reported in the press in Spain that the authorities have revealed McMeekin told them he knew who had stabbed him but that he would not be telling them. They also revealed McMeekin has a criminal record and it's well known he has a series of convictions for domestic abuse against a former partner. Dan McMeekin in Spain McMeekin, who is known to be extremely vulnerable due to substance abuse issues, became a target of social media trolls and amateur investigators after the murder of John George. McMeekin knew John George well and was in a bar in Spain where it's claimed a plan was hatched to attack the Belfast man who was later found murdered. The father of two was shot and his body was left in a rural area in the Alicante region around December 14 but his body wasn't discovered for several weeks. Supporters of John George and his family believe Dan McMeekin has information relevant to the investigation. However, he has never been arrested or charged with anything. In January Belfast lawyers acting for the family of John George named Dan McMeekin as being one of two men who was due to appear in court in Spain – not as suspects but to tell the court what they knew about the lead-up to the murder. Dan McMeekin is recovering in hospital after last Sunday's knife attack in Torrevieja Two weeks after John George's body was found, Belfast legal firm KRW Law said on January 31: 'We can confirm that summonses have issued for the attendance of two persons to answer enquiries in relation to the murder of Mr George. We have been in touch with the authorities in connection with this latest development. 'We understand that each person was originally due to appear at the designated Preliminary Court sitting in Torrevieja, Spain on Wednesday 29 January 2025 at 930am but are now expected to appear on Friday 31 January 2025 in the same court. 'We are advised the two specified persons are identified as Michael Maly and Daniel Anthony McMeekin. 'The family now face an anxious wait to learn what each individual has to say. They are calling upon them to take what they say is 'a final chance to come clean' on the lead-up to and the circumstances surrounding their son's murder before Christmas last year...' The family of John George arrive back in Belfast Czech national Michael Maly was later arrested and appeared in court as a murder suspect but was released on bail and has yet to be charged with any offence. Meanwhile 27-year-old Newtownabbey man Jonny Smyth was eventually arrested in Portugal having gone on the run before being extradited back to Spain where he has also been named as a suspect and held on remand in prison – but like Maly has not yet been charged with any offence. Sources say Jonny Smyth had helped Dan McMeekin after finding him in Spain in a bad way on drugs. Jonny Smyth But Smyth turned on Dan and gave him a beating after it's claimed he found Dan doing cocaine in the apartment Smyth shared with his partner – now wife – Madison. McMeekin has been in jail back home in Northern Ireland several times and was convicted of a number of nasty domestic abuse offences. He was described as a drug addict during several appearances in various courtrooms where it emerged he had attacked the same partner a number of times and that the pair were both vulnerable and suffered from substance and alcohol abuse issues. We can also reveal that McMeekin's images have been plastered all over social media in Spain where it's claimed he is a suspect in a number of burglaries. Pictures appearing to show him inside business premises late at night were shared widely. Those claiming he is a suspect have pointed to his very distinctive tattoo he has on his left hand which is clearly visible. McMeekin posted a video to his Facebook page back in January where he was visibly upset and appeared to be high on drugs or drink. He was responding to wild speculation on social media and named one TikToker who he felt was not telling the truth about him and what he knew or didn't know about John George. Slurring his words, he says: 'I am doing my best to help in so many ways... I am guilty, guilty of not telling the family sooner. I am vulnerable, this is breaking me, I have a heart, I do. 'The truth will be told, what I know is fact. It's been a hard time, I have helped. There's a lot of yous who don't know about the good I have done so stop going by social media and stop jumping to conclusions. 'I know what the family is going through, please stop jumping to conclusions, I am helping.' Murder victim John George The attack on Dan McMeekin comes during a spate of violence on the Spanish coast after a number of murders and shootings of British and Irish ex-pats various parts of the Spanish coast. The attack on him unfolded at around 1.30am on Calle Jalon, a shadowy street running parallel to the Las Estacas Rambla, just a stone's throw from the bustling La Zenia Boulevard shopping centre. It is very near to where another Irishman was shot in the head some weeks ago in what police suspected was a settling of scores between rival gangs. There is no suggestion yet that the two cases are linked. Dan McMeekin was found by local police bleeding heavily, having been stabbed in the street. Officers administered first aid at the scene before paramedics rushed him to Torrevieja Hospital, where he remained under care. John George and Dan McMeekin News in 90 Seconds - June 22nd The Sunday World has reached out to McMeekin but has not had a response. It's not clear if he has been released from hospital. The Guardia Civil's Judicial Police have opened an investigation, and the area around the attack remained cordoned off into Sunday morning, with blood stains still visible on the ground. This is the second serious incident involving Irish nationals in La Zenia in recent days, prompting unease among locals and authorities alike. In May, a 21-year-old Irishman was shot and seriously wounded nearby. That attack led to the arrest of two fellow Irishmen, aged 27 and 45. One, accused of pulling the trigger, is now behind bars without bail; the other was released with conditions, including a travel ban, as an alleged accomplice.
Extra.ie
10 hours ago
- Extra.ie
A cautionary 'tail' - How I survived a vicious dog attack
It was an ordinary sunny evening in my adopted village of Daya Vieja, near the beautiful harbour town of Santa Pola, on the Costa Blanca in Spain, a small Spanish hamlet, where nothing much ever happens and life is quiet and slow. Shortly after 7pm I decided to take a short slow ramble around the block with my elderly little rescue Bichon Frise, Oscar, a route we had walked many times in the past, as it's a quiet residential street bordered by fields on one side and mostly holiday homes on the other. As we walked past a parked car, I noticed a large dog in a crate in the boot, the hatchback of the car was open, but I thought the dog was secured in the carrier. It was a large Belgian Malinois, a powerful muscular animal usually used by the Police, and it went absolutely ballistic when it saw us approach the car, throwing itself at the door of the cage. The entire car was rocking, but the dog was securely locked in, or so I thought. Dog attack: A Belgian Malinois. Pic: Getty Images We had walked maybe 20 metres past when I was suddenly wrenched off my feet by the power of the vicious animal who had my tiny 8kg dog in its jaws, and was ferociously attacking him while I still had Oscar's lead in my hand. The powerful animal had managed to break the door of its cage and leapt out and attacked us. My screams and the desperate cries of Oscar alerted the owner of the attack dog who appeared out of a nearby house and tried to pull his dog away from us. Nothing was working, so I threw myself on the Malinois to try to stop him from killing my pet. This is when the Malinois turned on me, grabbing me by my right leg and dragging me, still kicking, off the footpath onto the road. Joan Larkin with her dog Oscar. Pic: Supplied All the while the owner is thumping his dog down on top of its head, which did nothing to stop the attack but I believe, made my injuries even worse, as each thump gave the dog more grip on my leg. I remember lying in the middle of the road and seeing Oscar flailing on his back, blood pouring from his abdomen, as the Malinois turned his attention back to him. The next part of the story is a blur and I DO NOT recommend anyone trying this, but I was desperate to save Oscar and I had lost all care for myself. A stock image of a Belgian Malinois. Pic: Shutterstock I ran at the dog, hoisted him by his big bushy tail and rammed my middle finger up his 'REAR END' – this was something I had somehow seen on TikTok shortly before the attack itself. The dog released its grip but then attacked again, so I did it a second time, at which point it finally gave up, released little Oscar and ran off. I gathered my wounded pup in my arms and ran for home. A friend drove us to the veterinary hospital where Oscar was rushed straight to X-RAY and later underwent emergency surgery to treat serious internal injuries. I was black and blue all over and had serious bite wounds, requiring stitches, to my legs and hands. One of the bite wounds Joan suffered. Pic: Supplied To be fair, I had a very lucky escape, which is why I am NOT recommending anyone do what I did. It was a moment of desperation, but one that no doubt saved both our lives. The questions most people asked me after the attack, were 'What did the Police do about it?' and 'Was that dangerous dog taken away?' The police told me it was a 'civil matter' as in their words, 'A dog attacked another dog and you got in the middle'. Two separate 'Guardia Civil Police Stations' told me the same thing. So, we engaged a lawyer who told us to expect a wait of around two years for the case to come to court, a case that would cost us way more than we could ever hope to gain in compensation. Santa Pola Gran Playa beach in Alicante region of Spain – Getty Images I did drive around to the owner of the Malinois and faced him down with copies of my medical reports and Oscar's vet bill which alone came to over 1,400 euros. As I approached the house, the Malinois ran to the gate, and stood up on his hind legs, ferociously barking and snarling down at me, but I haven't heard a word from the owner and the dog is still there. Joan with her dog Oscar. Pic: Supplied Needless to say, we left Spain shortly afterwards, after three years of living there, I no longer felt safe to walk in the village, and we came back home to Ireland. Oscar made a slow but full recovery thanks to the skilled vets in Spain who treated us so compassionately that night, while being totally unsurprised by the reactions of the Spanish Police. On July 11th it will be a year since that awful day, and Oscar, this amazingly brave little Bichon, has recovered from his horrific ordeal, so this year I intend to give him a fantastic day out at the beach, with a steak dinner and a doggy ice cream afterwards to celebrate another year of life.
