John O’Neill (40) was described by his neighbours in Coolock as a lovely and decent person with no criminal background. Mr O’Neill, a plasterer, had travelled to Spain with his partner, three-year-old boy and nine-month-old girl.
He died at about 3am local time from gunshot wounds shortly after he was involved in an argument in Coco’s Bar in the holiday resort of Benalmadena.
Police were called to the bar after shots were fired by a man also believed to have been involved in the row. The man had been ejected by staff earlier and returned a short time later with a gun and opened fire, fatally wounding the Irishman.
Mr O’Neill’s partner was with him in the bar at the time the fight broke out, but was uninjured in the gun attack.
Mr O’Neill died minutes later on the footpath a short distance from the bar, which is one of the most popular local night spots for ex-pats and tourists.
Police in Benalmadena say they did not think the killing was related to a recent spate of gangland-style attacks in the area.
The initial indications were that Mr O’Neill died “as a result of a row that went too far” although “all lines of investigation were being pursued at present,” Chief Insp Pedro Parrilla said.
Spanish police investigating the fatal shooting have refused to confirm media reports that a British man had been taken in for questioning over the killing.
Mr O’Neill’s parents were said to be in a state of shock yesterday. Neighbours could be seen calling to Mr O’Neill’s parents’ home on Bunratty Drive in Coolock yesterday.
Mr O’Neill had moved around the corner from his parents to a house on Adare Road.
Neighbours said they were very sad to hear of the death of the man who was well-regarded locally.
He was “the best person I have known”, one of his next-door neighbours said.
The elderly woman described him as “a good friend”, who was “decent and respectable. We all loved him,” the woman, who was visibly upset, added.
A local man blessed himself as he drove by the red-brick house overlooking Stardust Memorial Park.
“You couldn’t meet a nicer fellow,” said neighbour Mick Malone, who had watched him grow up on the road. “He was never in trouble as far as I know,” Mr Malone added.
“He was a lovely person,” said Andrew Moffett, a childhood friend who grew up on the same road. “He was never involved in any trouble and was very harmless,” he said.
“He was a complete nice chap and was never involved in anything or in trouble with the police,” neighbour Jack Boyd said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is liaising with the Spanish authorities and is providing consular assistance to Mr O’Neill’s family.
It is also expected a postmortem examination on Mr O’Neill will be carried out in Spain.
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