Key Takeaways:
- Michael Terrence Riley, 45, is accused of shooting two Glasgow crime bosses, Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr, dead at a bar in Fuengirola, Spain in May.
- Riley, who awaits trial in Spain, has been pictured for the first time and is accused of entering the bar, shooting the pair, and fleeing the country before being arrested in Liverpool two weeks later.
- The killings are part of a larger turf war between the Lyons and Daniel crime clans, which has been ongoing for almost two decades and has resulted in numerous arrests and violent incidents.
- Riley initially fought extradition to Spain, citing concerns for his safety and mental health, but later consented to his extradition in a surprise U-turn.
Introduction to the Case
The recent arrest and extradition of Michael Terrence Riley, 45, has brought attention to the ongoing turf war between the Lyons and Daniel crime clans in Scotland. Riley is accused of shooting two prominent members of the Lyons clan, Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr, dead at a bar in Fuengirola, Spain in May. The incident has sparked a wider investigation into the gangland violence that has been plaguing Scotland, with numerous arrests and violent incidents reported in recent months.
The Alleged Crime
According to reports, Riley entered Monaghan’s Bar in Fuengirola on May 31, where Lyons Jnr, 46, and Monaghan, 43, had been watching the Champions League final. Riley allegedly shot the pair and fled the country, before being arrested in Liverpool two weeks later on Friday, June 13. The Spanish police chief investigating the crime, Chief Superintendent Pedro Agudo Novo, described Riley’s actions as "professional" and noted that he had likely studied the area and planned his escape in advance.
The Turf War
The killings of Monaghan and Lyons Jnr are part of a larger turf war between the Lyons and Daniel crime clans, which has been ongoing for almost two decades. The feud has resulted in numerous violent incidents, including shootings, firebombings, and other attacks. In 2006, Michael Lyons, 21, was shot dead in a brazen attack at a garage in North Glasgow owned by the Lyons family. The attack was said to have been ordered by Daniel enforcer Kevin "Gerbil" Carroll. In 2010, Gerbil was shot dead in front of horrified lunchtime shoppers outside an Asda supermarket in the city. Monaghan was acquitted of the murder.
Riley’s Extradition
Riley initially fought extradition to Spain, citing concerns for his safety and mental health. His representative, Renata Pinter, told Westminster Magistrates’ Court in September that Riley "suffers from depression and anxiety" and would be in "fear of his life from other gang members" if detained in a Spanish prison. However, in a surprise U-turn at the same court on Tuesday, October 7, Riley gave up his fight against being sent to Spain and consented to his extradition. Chief Superintendent Agudo Novo noted that Riley was about to flee his Liverpool bolthole for a "paradise island tax haven" with no extradition treaty on the same day he was arrested.
Investigation and Aftermath
The investigation into the Fuengirola shootings is ongoing, with Police Scotland making 62 arrests in connection with the gangland violence as of November. The force continues to state that it has no information linking the Fuengirola shootings to the gangland violence. However, the incident has highlighted the ongoing struggle to combat organized crime in Scotland and the need for continued cooperation between law enforcement agencies. As the case against Riley proceeds, it is likely that more information will come to light about the circumstances surrounding the shootings and the larger turf war between the Lyons and Daniel crime clans.
