
Scottish police say underworld killings in Spain 'not linked' to gang war
Claims by Spanish police that the murders of two Scottish underworld figures in Spain are linked to a long running gangland feud have been refuted by the Chief Constable of Police Scotland.
At a meeting on Thursday in Edinburgh of oversight body the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) Jo Farrell also denied the fatal shootings were planned in Scotland.
Ross Monaghan, 46, and Eddie Lyons jnr, 43, were both shot dead at an Irish bar co owned by Monaghan in the Spanish holiday resort of Fuengirola on May 31, reports The Record.
Both victims were senior members of the Lyons crime clan who have been involved in a long running feud with the rival Daniel family dating back almost 25 years.
At a press conference earlier this month Malaga-based police chief, Pedro Agudo Novo, who is investigating the double murder, said it was linked to a rivalry with the Daniel family, which resurfaced earlier this year across Scotland.
When asked if the gunman belonged to the Daniel's crime family, replied: "Yes. Absolutely." He then added: "The double murder was carried out by a professional killer and member of one of the victims' rival gangs. "In this case, we are 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."
Since March members and associates of the Daniel family in Edinburgh and Glasgow have been subjected to fire bombings, machete assaults and other targeted iolence by a group linked to the Lyons family.
Police Scotland, who are investigating the attacks under Operation Portaledge, have previously denied any links between the double murder in Spain and the ongoing feud.
However the Chief Constable went one step further on Thursday when she presented her force's annual report to SPA board members.
The report said:" Police Scotland is supporting Spanish Police following the fatal shootings in Fuengirola. "At this time there is no evidence to suggest these deaths are linked to the recent criminal attacks in Scotland being investigated as part of Operation Portaledge or that the fatal shooting was planned in Scotland."
Ms Farrell also revealed the numbers of arrests under Portaledge had reached 49 and thanked both the public and forensic staff at the Scottish Police Authority for their help.
She added: "A dedicated team of officers from our Specialist Crime Division, with support from local divisions across the country, continue to carry out extensive enquiries to gather vital evidence and reassure the public with intelligence-led patrols. "We are still working tirelessly to build cases and are following a number of significant lines of enquiry.
"The support of our communities is essential when it comes to tackling serious organised crime, preventing violence and getting justice for victims. I want to thank the public for their assistance so far and encourage anyone else with information to come forward."
Both Monaghan and Lyons jnr were gunned down in front of terrified customers who had been watching the Champions League Final on television. The gunman shot Lyons jnr first then chased Monaghan into the bar where he was shot several times.
On June 13 Merseyside Police, acting on an international arrest warrant detained a Liverpool man called Michael Riley in connection with the shootings The 44-year-old has since appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London where he was remanded ahead of an extradition hearing on October 9.
Career criminal Ross Monaghan was tried but acquitted over the murder of notorious Daniel enforcer Kevin "Gerbil" Carroll at an Asda car park in Glasgow in 2010.
Seven years later he and Lyons jnr were cleared of being involved in a brutal street attack on three men outside the Campsie bar in Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow. Since last month's double murder Monaghan's bar has reopened under another name, The Irish Rover.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Police searching for missing Brit in Tenerife share major update and new photo
Police have released a new image of a Brit who is missing in Tenerife after travelling there three weeks ago and failing to board his flight home. Gerallt, 28, from Llandudno in Wales, flew to the Spanish island on July 7 for a holiday, and had planned to return home via Manchester on July 12. He was last seen leaving his home in Wales, police said, before boarding a flight to the island from Manchester Airport.


Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Notorious crime clan boss Big Mags Haney at centre of new documentary investigation
A heroin dealing grandmother once dubbed the neighbour from hell is to feature in a new six part BBC podcast. The female head of a notorious Scottish crime clan first exposed by the Daily Record is to be probed in a new documentary series. Mother of eleven Mags Haney - once branded the neighbour from hell - was responsible for a crime wave on the poverty stricken Raploch estate in Stirling which brought misery to local residents. The chain-smoking granny first attracted public attention for an anti-paedophile crusade. In reality she was peddling large sums of heroin using members of her own family including her children. Eventually local people stood up to her and she and family members were thrown out of Raploch following mass protests. A six-part BBC Scotland podcast series - The Ballad of Big Mags - will explore the life and times of a controversial figure who rose to prominence in the 1990's. Haney's own convictions stretched back to 1975 and included assault, contempt of court, breach of the peace and fraud. In 1995, Sheriff Norrie Stein branded the Haney's the "family from hell" and said they blighted lives in the area. At the time Haney admitted her children had made hundreds of court appearances between them, adding: "My kids have been brought up in the jungle." Haney had initially put herself forward as a self-styled vigilante against the threat of child abusers, leading a lynch mob after a paedophile was housed in the estate. She even appeared on the Kilroy TV show to talk about protecting youngsters from sex offenders and revelled in her mini-celebrity status. In 2000, the Record set up a Shop-A-Dealer hotline asking readers to identify drug pushers in their local area. As the calls came in, Haney was named as Stirling 's No1 drug dealer, selling up to 600 "tenner bags" of heroin every week while living off benefits of £1200 a month. She used her council home as a supply base and even sold drugs in front of her grandchildren. Haney used to sit in a big chair which was known to visitors as her "throne". The Daily Record's team managed to purchase two £10 heroin deals from Haney and passed a dossier of evidence to police. At her trial in 2003, Haney admitted running a £250,000-a-year drugs operation using a network of delivery runners, including her own children, grandchildren and nieces. She never returned to Stirling and was instead housed in Alva, Clackmannanshire before dying from cancer in 2013 aged 70. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Podcast presenter Myles Bonnar said: 'Many people only partially know the story of this controversial figure and this series will give a full account of how she rose to fame and became a source of fascination to the media and public before her criminal life was exposed."


Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Cops issue fresh update and new pic of missing Brit tourist who vanished after flying to Tenerife three weeks ago
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) COPS have issued a fresh update on the case of the missing Brit tourist who vanished after flying to Tenerife three weeks ago. Gerallt, 28, left for the Spanish island on July 7, but hasn't been seen since, with police now becoming "increasingly concerned" for his safety. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Cops have shared a new pic of Gerallt as they continue to search for the missing Brit Credit: North Wales Police 2 Gerallt, 28, left for the Spanish island on July 7, but hasn't been seen since Credit: Facebook Authorities in Tenerife and the British Embassy launched a desperate bid to try and find the Welshman. They have now renewed their appeal for information and shared a new picture of the missing Brit. Chief Inspector Wes Williams, North Wales Police, said: 'Officers are following several lines of investigation. 'We are appealing for information from anyone who knows Gerallt, or who may have been contacted by him, to contact us as soon as possible. 'We're keen to hear from anybody who believes they may have any information that could help our ongoing investigation. "Even the smallest lead could prove vital for Gerallt himself to make contact to let us, or his family, know that he is safe and well.' Cops also shared an image of the Llandudno man as they appealed for information to help with their search. He is described as being 5ft 8in with short, black hair. Gerallt was last seen wearing a navy-blue tracksuit and black trainers. Anyone with information is being urged to get in touch with North Wales Police, citing reference number 51398. It comes as the inquest into the death of Jay Slater, who vanished in Tenerife before being found at the bottom of a ravine last July, continued on Thursday. Apprentice bricklayer Jay flew to the Spanish island last June to attend the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas with two friends. Meanwhile, a Brit tourist died while swimming during a boat trip around the Greek islands. The man, 75, was dragged from the sea off the holiday hotspot of Kefalonia during the tourist trip. He jumped into the water when the vessel stopped off Ammoudi Beach and fell unconscious before other passengers pulled him into the boat. The holidaymaker was given first aid on the vessel before he was pronounced dead in hospital. The circumstances of his death are being investigated by Greek authorities. A Foreign Office spokesperson told The Sun: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities.' It comes just days after a pensioner was found dead on a sun lounger in nearby Crete. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.