Two Scots shot dead in suspected drug-linked execution in southern Spain

Friday 06 June 2025 - 16:15

By: Dakir Madiha

Two Scots shot dead in suspected drug-linked execution in southern Spain

Gunman kills two Scots outside crowded Costa del Sol pub

Two Scottish men were shot dead in Fuengirola, Málaga, on Saturday night in what Spanish police are treating as a drug-related execution.

The attack took place outside Monaghans, an Irish-themed pub located on the Rey de España promenade. The shooter approached the men shortly after 11pm, opened fire, and fled on foot.

One man was shot at close range in the chest and died instantly. The second tried to run inside the bar but was chased and shot in the chest and abdomen. He also died at the scene.

Spanish media reported that the bar was crowded with football fans watching the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan. One of the victims’ wives, who was present, was not harmed.

Local police, National Police, and emergency services responded quickly. Despite resuscitation efforts, both men were pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses said the shooter left on foot before joining an accomplice and fleeing by car.

Victims linked to Scottish criminal groups

The Spanish National Police have not confirmed the identities of the victims. However, several media outlets named them as Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jr.

Both men had previously been cleared in 2017 of involvement in a violent assault in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire. That incident was captured on CCTV and aired Monday on TeleCinco’s “El programa de Ana Rosa.”

Investigators suspect the double killing is part of a wider conflict between rival drug-trafficking networks in Scotland and Spain. Scottish media reported a gang feud has escalated since March.

Police activate anti-gang protocol on Costa del Sol

Spanish authorities have launched an investigation led by the UDYCO, the national division for violent crime and narcotics.

Francisco Javier Salas, sub-delegate of the Spanish government in Málaga, acknowledged the public’s concern and said efforts were underway to locate the shooter.

Police have activated “Plan Costa del Sol,” a law enforcement strategy designed to disrupt organized crime across the region. The protocol expands on “Plan Marbella,” which previously targeted criminal operations in the province.

Saturday’s shooting is the seventh in 45 days on the Costa del Sol, a region long considered a base for international criminal organizations due to its strategic location and large foreign population.