Hooded gunman opens fire on victims at Monaghans Bar in Fuengirola as horrified tourists watch PSG victory celebration turn to terror
Two Scottish men were brutally executed outside a packed Irish pub on Spain’s Costa del Sol last night in what police believe was a gangland hit.
The victims were shot dead at Monaghans Bar in the popular holiday resort of Fuengirola just after 11:30pm on Saturday – moments after tourists had finished watching the Champions League final.
Horrified witnesses described seeing a masked gunman emerge from a car before opening fire on the men as they stood outside the seafront bar on the Rey de España promenade.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HORROR
The shocking attack unfolded as the bar was packed with tourists and expats who had just watched Paris Saint-Germain thrash Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final.
Spanish officials confirmed both victims were Scottish nationals, with Javier Salas from the central government in Malaga province telling reporters the gunman “escaped from the scene” and is being hunted by police.
Around midnight an incident with firearms occurred in Fuengirola, specifically at an entertainment venue along the seafront,” a National Police spokesman said.
“Two males died as a result from gunshot wounds. The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made so far.
GANGLAND CONNECTION
Reports suggest the victims may include notorious Glasgow crime figures Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jr, though police have not officially confirmed their identities.
Monaghan, 43, who owns the bar where the shooting took place, fled Scotland in 2017 after being shot at twice while dropping his child off at primary school in Glasgow.
The alleged crime boss was previously cleared of murdering Glasgow gangster Kevin “Gerbil” Carroll, who was shot dead outside an Asda supermarket in 2010 in one of Scotland’s most infamous killings.
Eddie Lyons Jr, 46, comes from one of Glasgow’s most powerful crime families with a long history in organized crime.
EXECUTION-STYLE HIT
Witnesses reported seeing:
- A car pulling up outside the bar around 11pm
- One or more hooded men exiting the vehicle
- The gunman opening fire on victims standing outside
- The assassin fleeing in the getaway car
- Both men dying at the scene
Disturbing images from the scene show a man lying lifeless on his back in shorts and a t-shirt on the bar’s outside terrace, next to a drinks menu blackboard.
More than a dozen terrified witnesses called Spain’s emergency number 112 after hearing the gunshots ring out across the popular tourist strip.
THIRD VICTIM INJURED
Local newspaper La Opinion de Malaga reports a third person was injured in the shooting, though their condition remains unknown.
Police immediately set up roadblocks throughout the area in a desperate bid to catch those responsible, but no arrests have been reported.
COSTA DEL CRIME VIOLENCE
The double murder is the latest in a shocking wave of violence that has gripped the Costa del Sol this year, with this being at least the EIGHTH shooting in the Malaga area in just 45 days.
Police sources suggest the attack could be related to:
- Ongoing gang wars in Scotland
- Drug trafficking disputes
- A £500,000 cocaine theft
- Revenge attacks between rival criminal organisations
The Scottish Daily Express reports the violence may be linked to 31-year-old crime boss Ross McGill, who is allegedly orchestrating attacks from Dubai after rivals stole half a million pounds worth of his cocaine.
TOURIST HOTSPOT TERROR
Monaghans Bar – which describes itself as a “family friendly sports bar and restaurant” – sits on Fuengirola’s bustling seafront, directly opposite one of the area’s most popular beaches.
The bar’s website boasts: “A place where you can relax and spend the day enjoying great home cooked meals on a sunny terrace and watch live sporting events.
Last night that sunny terrace became a crime scene as Spain’s specialist violent crime unit (UDEV) launched a major investigation.
FOREIGN OFFICE RESPONSE
The UK Foreign Office confirmed it had not yet been contacted for consular assistance but stands ready to help British nationals if required.
“We have not been approached for any consular assistance but our staff stand ready to assist any British nationals if required,” a spokesperson said.
HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
The Costa del Sol has long been nicknamed the “Costa del Crime” due to its popularity with British and Irish criminal organisations.
The region became a haven for UK criminals in the 1970s when Spain lacked extradition treaties with Britain, attracting everyone from the Great Train Robbers to those behind the Brinks-Mat heist.
In recent years, it has become a battleground for:
- Scottish crime families
- Irish cartels including the notorious Kinahan organisation
- Colombian drug trafficking networks
- Russian and Albanian organised crime groups
NO SAFE HAVEN
Saturday night’s brazen execution shows that even public places packed with innocent tourists offer no protection from the violent underworld that operates along Spain’s southern coast.
As police continue their manhunt for the masked assassin, terrified locals and holidaymakers are left wondering when the next shooting will shatter the peace of this supposed paradise.ƒ
