Man held over Irish tourist’s death

AN ALGERIAN was arrested yesterday in connection with the murder of a Dublin man, who died 17 days after being found unconscious and with severe head injuries in the Canary Islands.

Spanish police initially concluded that Daniel Paul O’Callaghan, a shop manager from Rathmines, Co Dublin, had died after an accidental fall while holidaying on the islands in May 2002.

The 24-year-old’s body was discovered in a laneway close to pubs and nightclubs at the popular holiday resort of Playa del Ingles, which is situated on the south coast of Gran Canaria.

It subsequently emerged that police failed to cordon off the scene for forensic examination, or to seek witnesses.

Mr O’Callaghan’s family always believed he had been the victim of a vicious assault.

They were deeply unhappy at the way Spanish police had conducted their initial investigation.

However, following pressure from Daniel O’Callaghan’s family, the Department of Justice and the Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs, the Spanish government announced last May that it was reopening their investigation into case.

The undertaking was eventually given to Mr O’Callaghan’s family by a senior official of the Spanish government, following a meeting with a delegation of Irish MEPs.

The 30-year-old man who was arrested yesterday was named by Spanish authorities only as Mohammed S.

It is believed he is originally from Algeria, but he had been living in the Canary Islands for several years.

Police said he will be brought before a judge within 72 hours to be questioned, and that his full name will not be revealed in advance of any trial for murder.