Four held over disappearance of Wes Hoolahan's brother in Marbella
Four men have been remanded in custody after a Spanish police operation into the disappearance of Darren Hoolahan, 37, feared murdered on the Costa del Sol.
Four remanded in custody over Kinahan-linked disappearance on Costa del Sol
Four men have been jailed pending trial over the disappearance of Darren "Roy" Hoolahan, 37, the brother of former Republic of Ireland and Premier League footballer Wes Hoolahan, according to The Sun. Darren vanished in Marbella in early June and has not been seen since.
Five suspects were arrested during a police operation on the Costa del Sol late last month and brought before a Spanish court. Four were remanded in custody without bail and are being investigated for illegal detention, possession of weapons of war, membership of a criminal organisation, and drug trafficking.
The fifth suspect, identified only as Karl, was released on provisional bail and ordered to report to court twice a month. He was subsequently taken to prison on a separate international arrest warrant issued by Spain's National Court.
Irish police believe Darren Hoolahan's disappearance may be linked to a dispute with Kinahan-linked criminal figures based in southern Spain. His family fear he has been murdered. A missing persons report was filed with Spanish authorities on 10 June by a woman close to him, after which an Interpol search alert was issued.
Hoolahan had lived on the Costa del Sol for several years and worked in the nightlife industry. He had previous convictions in Ireland.
One of the suspects detained in connection with the alleged kidnapping is understood to be a north Dublin man with links to slain drug boss Martin "Marlo" Hyland. He was arrested on 27 October alongside a man ten years his junior. The suspect is described as a veteran of Dublin's organised crime scene, having been drawn into Hyland's criminal network over two decades ago. Hyland was shot dead at his home in Finglas in 2006.
The suspect later served a prison sentence for firearms offences before becoming embroiled in the Kinahan-Hutch feud, during which he became a significant target for the Hutch gang and fled to the Costa del Sol. He is also said to remain under investigation over the February 2016 murder of Eddie Hutch — the older brother of Gerry "The Monk" Hutch — who was shot dead at his Dublin home. Earlier this year, the same man was reportedly arrested and released in connection with firearms threats.
Irish police believe his younger associate was previously involved in Kinahan operations in Dublin.
Wes Hoolahan made 43 appearances for the Republic of Ireland over nine years and spent four seasons in the Premier League with Norwich City.
Source: The Sun