Fears continue for brother of Irish sports star after Barcelona shooting ruled unrelated

Barcelona shooting victim not believed to be Irish, sources say. Picture: iStock

Reports that an Irish man was shot dead in Barcelona are now believed to be inaccurate, with multiple security sources indicating that the victim was not an Irish citizen.

The clarification comes amid ongoing concerns for the brother of a well-known Irish sports star who has reportedly gone missing in Spain.

The man is understood to have moved from Ireland to Spain during the Kinahan-Hutch feud and is suspected by gardaí of having associations with individuals involved in organised crime.

There had been fears that the missing man was the victim of a fatal shooting in the Carrer de Balmes area of Barcelona on Thursday morning at approximately 9am.

However, several security sources in Ireland have told the Irish Examiner that the person killed in the shooting was not Irish.

Gardaí have visited the family home in Dublin’s inner city to obtain details of any recent contact with the missing man, who was reported missing by relatives.

A local resident who lives close to the man’s parents in Dublin said: “His parents are highly respected in the area.

"They really are lovely people, as is his older brother, who did his country proud in the sport which made him so well known."

Security sources said the whereabouts of the missing man remain unknown and inquiries are continuing to establish his welfare.

Gardaí are understood to be in contact with Spanish authorities regarding the missing individual. However, Irish sources stressed that gardaí are not involved in the Spanish investigation into the fatal shooting in Barcelona.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said: “The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of reports and stands ready to provide consular assistance. As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases.”