Bodies of Scottish gangsters shot dead in Irish bar in Spain to be returned to families

Spanish authorities have given the green light for the release of the bodies to their loved ones four weeks on from the May 31 shooting at Monaghan's Bar in Fuengirola.

While it is not clear when the bodies will be repatriated and no details of funeral arrangements have been made public, a Spanish judicial official spokesperson has confirmed the move.

A statement reads: “Fuengirola's Court of Instruction Number Two which is coordinating the judicial investigation into the murders has authorised the release of the bodies to their families for them to do what they believe to be appropriate.”

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Both men died in a hail of bullets as they were drinking in Monaghans bar after watching the Champions League Cup final.

The horror moment that was captured on CCTV shows a hooded assassin storming the boozer and shooting both men dead in front of tourists and staff.

Both men were members of Scotland’s infamous Lyons gang which has been involved in a two-decades long feud with Glasgow’s Daniel crime gang.

The Lyons gang has ties to the Kinahans and it has been reported how associates of the cartel have offered support to the grieving families and told them “we’ll get this sorted."

Over the last few months, there has been a series of attacks across Scotland linked to the bitter gangland war.

Spanish police investigating the double murder have claimed that the duo were killed by rivals from the Daniel gang.

However, at a Scottish Police Authority (SPA) meeting in Edinburgh Jo Farrell denied that the shooting was planned in Scotland, the Daily Record has reported.

"At this time, there is no evidence to suggest these deaths are linked to the recent criminal attacks in Scotland being investigated as part of Operation Portaledge or that the fatal shooting was planned in Scotland,” she said.

Just days following the slaying of Lyons and Monaghan, Police Scotland insisted that it was not related to the feud

However, Malaga-based Spanish police chief Pedro Agudo Novo said that the suspected hitman arrested on suspicion of the double murder was linked to the Daniel crime family.

"The double murder was carried out by a professional killer and member of one of the victims' rival gangs,” he told a press conference.

"In this case, we are not talking about an independent hired killer, but an internal member of the rival Daniels gang who ends up assassinating two members of an enemy gang."

The feud, which reignited in March, has seen members and associates of the Daniel family in Edinburgh and Glasgow subjected to fire bombs, machete assaults and targeted violence by a group linked to the Lyons family.

As part of Operation Portaledge, Scottish police are investigating any links between the murders in Spain and the ongoing feud.

So far police have made 49 arrests as part of the probe.

"A dedicated team of officers from our Specialist Crime Division, with support from local divisions across the country, continue to carry out extensive enquiries to gather vital evidence and reassure the public with intelligence-led patrols,” Farrell said.

"We are still working tirelessly to build cases and are following a number of significant lines of enquiry.

"The support of our communities is essential when it comes to tackling serious organised crime, preventing violence and getting justice for victims. I want to thank the public for their assistance so far and encourage anyone else with information to come forward."

Last month, Michael Riley (44) of Merseyside appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court via videolink from HMP Wandsworth, in connection with the murders at Monaghans Bar in Fuengirola on May 31.

He is wanted by Spanish police on warrant, and remanded into custody ahead of an extradition hearing set to take place

A full extradition hearing is set to be held later this year.

Riley has not been charged with the murders.