A British man accused of gunning down two notorious Scottish gangsters at a Spanish bar is set to spend New Year's Eve in a cramped jail cell near the scene of the alleged crime, after being transferred from a so-called 'VIP prison'.
From 'Golden Cage' to Overcrowded Prison
Michael Riley, 44, from Huyton, Liverpool, is now being held at Alhaurin de la Torre prison near Malaga. This marks a stark contrast to his previous detention at Soto del Real prison near Madrid, a facility nicknamed 'The VIP prison', 'The Golden Cage', and even 'Soto del Relax' for its luxurious amenities.
Those amenities included a 65-foot swimming pool, gyms, and sports courts, and it has housed high-profile inmates like ex-Barcelona president Sandro Rosell. Riley was moved after his lawyer, based in the Malaga area, requested the transfer to better prepare his defence.
His new home, the 34-year-old Alhaurin prison, presents a different reality. It houses more than 1,100 inmates, significantly above its official capacity of 836. Prisoners have complained of tiny, poorly ventilated cells where summer temperatures can soar to nearly 40°C, and union bosses have labelled the institution "conflictive".
The Alleged Costa del Sol Hit
Riley faces allegations of murdering two Scottish gangsters, Ross Monaghan, 46, and Eddie Lyons Jnr, 43, at Monaghan's Irish pub in the Fuengirola resort on the Costa del Sol. The violent incident occurred in October, with Lyons reportedly shot on the terrace outside before Monaghan was killed inside the bar he owned.
Spanish police chief Pedro Agudo Novo claimed Riley was an alleged hitman for a rival Scottish gang, which he named as the Daniel crime clan, and was about to flee to a "paradise island tax haven" when arrested in the UK on an international warrant. However, Police Scotland later stated they had "no intelligence" linking the killings to an ongoing turf war.
Riley initially fought extradition, claiming he feared for his life in a Spanish prison, but consented in October and was flown to Madrid. His remand in custody was formally confirmed on November 13 with no bail, for two counts of murder.
Long Road Through Spanish Justice
Under Spanish law, suspects can be held on remand for up to four years while an investigation proceeds, with judicial approval required for extensions. Formal charges have not yet been laid, as Spain's judicial process involves lengthy court-led investigations that can take years.
The case is being handled by the Civil and Preliminary Investigation Section of Court of First Instance Number Two in Fuengirola. Riley was recently quizzed via videoconference from Alhaurin prison, though it is not known if he answered questions or remained silent.
His situation highlights the protracted nature of such cases. In a similar instance, Conor Cowan from Stornoway has been held for over two years without charge following a major cocaine bust and could face another 24 months of investigation.
The pub where the double shooting took place has since reopened under a new name, the Irish Rover, as the legal process against the accused Liverpool man slowly continues.
