Violent criminal wanted for shooting Irishman in Spain

THE man at the centre of an international police hunt following the shooting dead of an Irish father-of-two has a string of convictions for violent crime and has been on the run from British police for four years.

A Spanish judge yesterday issued a Europe-wide arrest warrant for Darren O’Flaherty, 35, who is wanted in connection with the shooting of 40-year-old Dubliner John O’Neill outside Coco’s bar in Benalmadena, Costa del Sol, on Wednesday morning.

Originally from Liverpool, O’Flaherty has faced charges of grievous bodily harm, assaulting a police officer, dangerous driving with intent, conspiracy to kidnap, robbery and gang membership dating back to the mid-1990s.