Irishman shot dead outside bar in Spain

Updated: 22:49, Wednesday, 28 July 2010

An Irishman has been shot dead following a row outside a bar on the Costa del Sol in Spain.

1 of 2 Spain John O'Neill shot dead outside Coco's Bar in Benalmadena
Spain
John O'Neill shot dead outside Coco's Bar in Benalmadena
2 of 2 Costa del Sol John O'Neill shot in the stomach
Costa del Sol
John O'Neill shot in the stomach

coco's bar

An Irishman has been shot dead following a row outside a bar on the Costa del Sol in Spain.

John O'Neill, a 40-year-old plasterer from Coolock in Dublin, was shot at Coco's Bar in Benalmadena, near Malaga.

It is understood the shooting took place following a row at around 3am this morning.

One of the men involved left the scene and came back with a gun a short time later. Mr O'Neill was shot in the stomach and died at the scene.

Spanish police do not believe the shooting was gang-related and are said to be following a definite line of inquiry.

Mr O'Neill was attending a friend's wedding in Spain and was with a group of friends at the time he was shot.

He was the father of a three-year-old boy and a nine-month-old girl.

The parents of Mr O'Neill said their son was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Speaking through a family friend, his parents said he was an innocent man with no criminal record.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance.

It is also expected a post-mortem examination will be carried out on Mr O'Neill in Spain.

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