By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Eddie Lyons Jr. and Ross Monaghan, both with ties to a Glasgow criminal gang, were fatally shot at Monaghan’s Bar in Fuengirola, Spain. The masked gunman fled the scene in a car after the Saturday evening attack. Monaghan, previously acquitted of the murder of Kevin ‘Gerbil’ Carroll, had relocated to Spain following a 2017 shooting. This incident follows a long-standing feud between the Lyons and Daniel crime families and recent shootings in the Costa del Sol area potentially linked to drug trafficking.
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Two Scottish men, Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan, were shot dead in a bar in Fuengirola, Spain. The brazen attack, which occurred on a Saturday evening just after 11 pm, involved a masked gunman who opened fire before fleeing the scene in a waiting car. This wasn’t a random act of violence; both men had significant ties to a Glasgow-based criminal gang, and their deaths appear to be the culmination of years of gang warfare and retribution.
The location itself, Monaghan’s Bar, was a rather bold choice for the assassination. It’s almost as if the killers intended to send a very public message. The fact that it happened in a busy bar suggests a level of confidence, or perhaps recklessness, on the part of the perpetrators. The swift escape suggests meticulous planning and a getaway driver waiting nearby.
Both Lyons and Monaghan had prior brushes with violence. Lyons had been shot and wounded in 2006, an attack reportedly connected to Kevin ‘Gerbil’ Carroll, a notorious figure in Glasgow’s underworld. Monaghan’s history is even more intertwined with this violent criminal landscape. He was famously acquitted of Carroll’s murder in 2010, a case that highlighted the difficulties of prosecuting organized crime figures in Scotland. The evidence against Monaghan was incredibly weak, with his DNA found only in minute quantities on a murder weapon; quantities so small that they were easily contaminated and unreliable, even compared to the DNA of a lab technician who never handled the weapon.
Monaghan’s acquittal was far from the end of his violent encounters. He was later shot himself in Glasgow in 2017, while dropping off his daughter at school. This near-fatal attack likely spurred his move to Spain, a move that, tragically, didn’t offer him the refuge he sought. The choice to relocate to Spain, ostensibly to escape the violence, only prolonged the cycle. This case raises questions about the extent to which organized crime can truly escape its tentacles, even with a move to a seemingly safer location. The seemingly endless cycle of violence only underscores the deep-rooted nature of the criminal networks involved.
The incident has naturally drawn considerable attention. The sheer audacity of the attack, coupled with the victims’ criminal backgrounds, has made this a high-profile international story. The police investigation will undoubtedly focus on the Glasgow-based criminal gang connections, tracing the connections between the victims, their rivals, and the individuals responsible for the attack. The fact that both men were connected to this gang, and had survived previous assassination attempts, speaks volumes about the brutality and pervasiveness of this specific criminal organization. The use of a vehicle for both arrival and escape speaks to planning and resources. This suggests a level of organization and sophistication within the criminal enterprise involved in these killings.
The case is certain to ignite renewed discussion on the complexities of organized crime in Scotland and the challenges faced in prosecuting members of these groups. The seemingly impenetrable nature of these criminal networks and the ease with which individuals can relocate to avoid immediate consequences highlights the broader systemic issues involved, far beyond the specific details of this shocking double homicide. The fact that this brutal act occurred in a public place highlights the boldness of the perpetrators and underscores the escalating levels of violence associated with these underworld figures and their ongoing feuds. The sheer brazenness of the attack, combined with the victims’ pasts and the seemingly effortless escape of the killer, illustrates the magnitude and danger of the criminal environment.
The long-term consequences of this incident remain to be seen, but it is certain to have lasting implications for the individuals and families affected, as well as for law enforcement agencies trying to combat this pervasive criminal activity. The killings highlight the international reach of organized crime, and the difficulties faced in dismantling such deeply ingrained networks of violence and intimidation. This is more than just a story about two men; it’s a glimpse into a dangerous world of revenge, retribution, and the enduring power of criminal organizations.