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Briton hunted over Dublin man death

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Spanish police are hunting a gunman who shot dead an Irish holidaymaker at a popular tourist resort.
Spanish police are hunting a gunman who shot dead an Irish holidaymaker at a popular tourist resort.

John O'Neill, 40, from Coolock in north Dublin, was gunned down outside Coco's Bar in Benalmadena, near Malaga, on the Costa del Sol.

It is believed the plasterer was caught up in a fight which spilled out on to the streets of the small seaside town at around 3am local time.

Investigators are looking for the chief suspect, a British man, who was reported to have fled the scene of the killing.

Mr O'Neill, the father of a three-year-old boy and a nine-month-old girl, was in the Costa del Sol for a friend's wedding along with his partner.

She was with him in the bar at the time the fight broke out but was uninjured in the gun attack.

Nicole Cacho, a reporter with La Opinion de Malaga newspaper, said local police believe Mr O'Neill was shot twice with a .38 calibre pistol.

"Apparently the suspect shot the victim and fled to the beach," she said.

"A fight started in the bar and they brought it outside and one of the guys got a gun and shot three bullets.

"Two of them apparently hit the victim and the other bullet was lost."

Unconfirmed local reports said Mr O'Neill was hit in the stomach and died at the scene.

Initial reports that a man had been arrested in connection with the attack were later dismissed as Spanish police confirmed they were still looking for the suspect.

Sources said investigators have a clear idea of the identity of a British man they believe carried out the shooting.

Spanish police have told Irish authorities they do not believe the gun attack was gang-related.

Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said it was providing consular assistance to Mr O'Neill's family while they await a full police report on the incident.

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

© Press Association

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At 13:25 on 28 July 2010, big ernest wrote:
condolences to his family , god be with them .
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