Scots gangland hit in Spain is most likely down to a pro 'gun for hire'

CLAIMS that the gunman who shot dead two prominent gangsters in a Spanish bar had been dispatched there from Scotland have been described as “highly doubtful” by one expert.

- By Richard Elias and Ben Borland

Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jr were killed on Saturday night when a hitman targeted them in Fuengirola. Early reports suggested the assassin was a Scot, but one source with detailed experience of dealing with major underworld incidents like this believes that is almost certainly not the case.

Speaking exclusively to the Scottish Daily Express, the insider revealed: “The logistics of organising someone to fly down to Spain, carry out the hit and then make good their escape are extremely complicated.

“You need a middle man in Spain to supply the weapons as you would not risk bringing it out yourself. You need someone with local knowledge to arrange a route to the scene of the attack and obviously, an escape plan. On top of that you need to get that individual out of the country undetected.”

He added: “All in all, it makes the Scottish hypothesis highly doubtful to me. Why go to all that trouble when there are people already in Spain who are willing to do your dirty work for you. For a price, of course. The Costas are full of Moroccans and Albanians who are simply ‘guns for hire’.

“It is much more feasible this is what happened on Saturday. Life is cheap for these kids and as well as getting paid, it gives them a lift up the criminal ladder by gaining kudos.” The source went on to explain that while major players, such as the Dublin-formed Kinahans gang, will use their own people to carry out such attacks, it is due to so many of them actually relocating to Spain and their familiarity with the region.