Lorraine Williamson
Two Scottish men were fatally shot outside a busy Irish pub in Fuengirola late Saturday night in what appears to be a targeted gangland killing. The attack took place shortly after 11.00 pm on 31 May, following the Champions League Final, with crowds still gathered in and around the area.
Emergency services were alerted by nearby residents who reported hearing gunfire. A masked individual exited a car, opened fire on the two men at close range, and returned to the vehicle before it sped off. Authorities confirmed that both men died at the scene, despite efforts by paramedics.
The incident happened outside Monaghan’s Bar, located on Fuengirola’s beachfront. Harrowing images from the aftermath show one of the victims lying motionless near the terrace, later covered by emergency responders.
Victims linked to Glasgow criminal underworld
The deceased have been identified as Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr. Both are reportedly linked to the Lyons crime group in Glasgow. Monaghan was the registered owner of the bar where the attack occurred and had been living on the Costa del Sol since 2017, when he fled Scotland after surviving a separate shooting outside a primary school.
Escape route suggests premeditated assault
According to DiarioSur, the assailants arrived by car and used a nearby alleyway for a rapid escape. This has led investigators to believe the attack was carefully planned. One victim was shot in the chest and died instantly. The second was hit in the torso and abdomen and died shortly afterwards.
Police roadblocks were set up immediately after the attack, but no arrests have yet been made.
Police reinforce anti-gang strategy following violence spike
Spanish authorities, already concerned by a rise in organised crime on the Costa del Sol, have activated the “Plan Costa del Sol” initiative aimed at suppressing gun-related incidents. The region has seen a notable increase in gang violence this year, particularly involving foreign nationals.
Francisco Javier Salas, the government’s sub-delegate in Málaga, confirmed both victims were Scottish nationals. Spain’s Unidad de Delincuencia Especializada y Violenta (UDEV) and forensic teams have taken over the investigation, which remains ongoing.
Gang feud in Scotland may form backdrop to Costa del Sol killings
Whether the Fuengirola attack is directly linked to Scotland’s gang conflicts remains unconfirmed. However, the killings come amid heightened tensions between the Lyons and Daniels groups — two rival crime families at the centre of a years-long turf war.
Police in Glasgow and Edinburgh have made over 40 arrests connected to ongoing violence believed to have intensified following a botched drug deal. Reports suggest the feud escalated after an alleged £500,000 scam involving fake cash targeting Dubai-based figure Ross McGill. The incident appears to have triggered a wave of reprisals, pushing the conflict beyond Scotland’s borders.
Sources: Herald Scotland, DiarioSur, Daily Record