The hunt for justice in one of Spain’s most shocking gangland shootings has taken a major turn.
A British man accused of gunning down two Scottish gangsters at a Costa del Sol bar has been extradited to Spain to finally face trial.
The Alleged Hitman Flown to Madrid
Michael Riley, 44, who was wanted for the fatal shootings of Ross Monaghan, 43, and Eddie Lyons Jr, 46, at Monaghan’s Bar in Fuengirola, has now touched down in Spain.
The deadly attack took place on May 31 at the bustling Irish pub, leaving both victims—linked to the notorious Lyons crime family—dead at the scene.
Riley was arrested in Liverpool in June under an international warrant issued by Spanish authorities.
After months of legal wrangling in the UK, he was flown to Madrid’s Barajas Airport late Tuesday night and immediately taken into custody.
Court Officials Confirm His Arrival
Spanish court officials confirmed that Riley arrived around 10 p.m. and was promptly brought before a duty judge to formalize his detention.
One insider explained, “He appeared before a judge overnight and was remanded to a Madrid prison.
He’ll face another court hearing in Fuengirola once the paperwork is complete.”
The 44-year-old had initially resisted extradition, claiming he feared for his safety in a Spanish prison.
But last week, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he consented to return to Spain to face charges.
Links to a Bitter Gang Feud
Police believe Riley is tied to the Daniels gang, long embroiled in a brutal feud with the Lyons clan—one of Scotland’s most powerful organized crime groups.
The rivalry is said to have been sparked years ago when members of the Lyons crew allegedly stole a £20,000 cocaine stash belonging to their rivals.
Monaghan, who reportedly owned the Fuengirola pub where the murders occurred, was watching the Champions League final with friends when gunfire erupted.
Witnesses say Lyons Jr was struck outside the bar by a single bullet, while Monaghan tried to flee inside—only to be cornered and shot multiple times in cold blood.
A Life Built Around Crime and Fear
Ross Monaghan wasn’t just a small-time player. Investigators believe he had become a powerful figure in the Lyons operation, helping to manage its lucrative drug network from his base in Spain.
He was even rumored to have forged alliances with Ireland’s feared Kinahan cartel—a group linked to multiple killings and large-scale drug trafficking.
Monaghan’s growing influence made him a marked man.
He was once charged, though later cleared, in the 2010 murder of Daniels gang member Kevin “Gerbil” Carroll, who was shot dead in a Glasgow supermarket car park.
In another case, both Monaghan and Lyons Jr were acquitted in 2017 after being accused of a violent street brawl outside a bar in East Dunbartonshire.
From Scotland to Spain — A Violent Legacy
After surviving a shooting outside a Glasgow school where he was dropping off his child, Monaghan fled to Spain, seeking safety and perhaps a fresh start. But the move only delayed the inevitable.
His murder in Fuengirola is now seen as the tragic climax of a years-long criminal feud stretching from Glasgow’s gritty streets to the sunny shores of southern Spain.
What Comes Next for Riley
Now remanded in a Madrid prison, Riley faces a long road ahead.
Under Spanish law, suspects can be held for up to two years without formal charges while investigations continue.
Police sources have suggested more arrests could follow as investigators dig deeper into the Lyons-Daniels feud and its deadly Spanish chapter.