Michael Riley, 44, has been charged with gunning down Ross Monaghan, 43, and Eddie Lyons Jnr, 46 – two men connected with the Lyons organised crime family from the west of Scotland
An alleged hitman accused of gunning down two Scottish gangsters on the Costa del Sol fears reprisals if he’s locked up in a Spanish prison.
Michael Riley, 44, is charged with the murders of Lyons gang members Ross Monaghan, 43, and Eddie Lyons Jnr, 46, at Monaghan’s Bar in Feungirola on May 31.
Riley was arrested by Merseyside police on June 13 under an international arrest warrant issued by the Spanish authorities.
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The victims were connected to the Lyons family, a major organised crime group based in the west of Scotland.
Riley, of Huyton, Liverpool, did not appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today for the brief ‘call over’ ahead of his full extradition hearing later this year.
Renata Pinter, defending, said he will advance submissions based on Article 3 of the Human Rights Act, which ‘prohibits everyone from being subjected to torture, or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.’
She said Riley ‘suffers from depression and anxiety’ and would be in ‘fear of his life from other gang members’ if detained in a Spanish prison.
Ms Pinter said a psychiatric report and a report into prison conditions in Spain will be provided ahead of his extradition hearing in November.
“I spoke to the psychiatrist and a report can be completed by Thursday,” said Ms Pinter. “The report into prison conditions will be provided by an expert in criminology and prisons in Spain.”
District Judge John Zani said Riley will remain in custody ahead of his next call over hearing on October 3. His full extradition hearing is fixed for November 20.
Lyons Jnr and Monaghan were watching the Champions League final with friends when they were gunned down at the bar on the beachfront.
Lyons Jnr died after he was hit by a single bullet outside the bar in front of horrified drinkers. CCTV showed the gunman pursuing Monaghan inside the pub before shooting him dead.
Malaga-based Spanish police chief Pedro Agudo Novo has described Riley as a member of the Daniels gang which has been involved in a long-running feud with the Lyons gang.