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Just over two weeks after the fatal shooting of two prominent Scottish gangland figures at a Costa del Sol bar, a man has been arrested in connection with their deaths.

 

Michael Riley, 44, was detained in Liverpool under an international arrest warrant issued by Spanish authorities. The arrest was carried out by Merseyside Police and marks a significant development in the high-profile case, which saw Ross Monaghan, 43, and Eddie Lyons Jnr, 46, shot dead at Monaghans Bar in Fuengirola on May 31.

 

Both victims were known affiliates of the Lyons crime clan, one of Scotland’s most notorious organised crime groups. At the time of the attack, they had been watching the UEFA Champions League final with friends at the popular Irish-themed seafront venue.

 

According to Spanish media and CCTV evidence, a masked gunman approached the pair outside the bar and opened fire. Lyons Jnr was hit by a single bullet and died instantly in full view of bar patrons. Monaghan attempted to flee inside but was pursued and fatally shot within the premises.

 

Riley has since appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court and has been remanded in custody, pending further hearings. The Spanish authorities are expected to seek his extradition.

 

The double killing stunned both the local community in Fuengirola and criminal justice officials on both sides of the Channel. Scottish detectives have been working alongside Spanish police, providing background intelligence on the two victims, both of whom had survived previous attempts on their lives.

 

While speculation initially suggested a possible link to the ongoing Lyons-Daniels gangland feud in Glasgow, Police Scotland has stated there is no intelligence connecting the Fuengirola shootings to any recent violent clashes in Scotland. A series of attacks in Glasgow earlier this year led to more than 40 arrests, including for alleged attempted murders and firebombings.

 

Monaghan, who survived a school-run shooting in 2017, had relocated to Spain shortly afterwards. He had previously stood trial over the 2010 murder of Kevin ‘Gerbil’ Carroll, an enforcer for the rival Daniels family, but was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

 

Lyons Jnr also had a long history of involvement in gang-related violence and was shot and injured in 2006 in an incident believed to have been orchestrated by Carroll.

 

The Lyons-Daniels feud, which has spanned two decades, is considered one of the most violent and enduring criminal rivalries in the UK. The arrest of Riley is seen as a breakthrough in a case that raised fresh concerns about the presence of British gangsters operating on the Costa del Sol, a region long associated with international crime networks.

 

Spanish police have yet to comment publicly on whether more arrests are expected, but their investigation remains active, with further cooperation anticipated from UK authorities.

 

Image: LiverpoolExpress