Christy Kinahan was celebrating today after being told he will not face trial in Spain on drugs and arms trafficking charges.

 

Christy Kinahan was celebrating today after being told he will not face trial in Spain on drugs and arms trafficking charges.

The underworld boss feared he would be prosecuted for the crimes after a high-profile police raid on his Costa del Sol home in May 2010,

But a judge investigating the Irishman and a gang of alleged accomplices including his two sons has decided to drop the allegations.

Kinahan, who was hauled back to a court in Estepona yesterday for further questioning, is now being probed only on suspicion of money laundering and membership of a criminal gang.

 

 

 

The dramatic decision, which a state prosecutor decided not to appeal against, will be seen as a major blow for the Spanish police and politicians.

Former Home Secretary Alfredo Rubalcaba branded the Kinahans a “mafia family” when Christy and sons Christopher and Daniel were arrested during a series of dawn raids on the Costa del Sol.

Nearly a dozen suspects were arrested in the UK and Ireland as part of the same Europol-coordinated police operation.

Rubalcaba, who has just been replaced as leader of Spain’s main opposition party, even linked the alleged gang ringleaders to a string of murders when he reacted to news of the arrests during a visit to Poland.

He said at the time: “This was an operation against an important, well-known mafia of organised crime, which has operated in different countries and which is being linked to various murders and with a number of crimes from drug trafficking to people trafficking.

“It is a mafia family relatively well-known in the United Kingdom, a little less known in Spain, but they are established on the Costa del Sol.”

Investigating judge Maria Carmen Gutierrez Henares is understood to have binned her drugs and weapons trafficking probe after finding no evidence linking Kinahan and his alleged accomplices to the crimes.

Christy and his sons and alleged right-hand man John Cunningham will remain on bail along with the other suspects while the secret court probe continues into the money laundering and criminal gang membership allegations.

 

Daniel Kinahan, front wearing shades, carries his mother's coffin

 

 

Sources close to the long-running case predicted last night it could take at least two more years to reach trial - and the number of defendants in the dock would be a fraction of those originally arrested.

One insider said: “All the suspects including Christy Kinahan have been called back to court over the last three weeks to give evidence behind closed doors.

“Most said they had nothing to add to earlier statements.

“Christy KInahan attended court yesterday/on Wednesday but managed to get in and out of the building without anyone cottoning on to the fact it was him.

“He’s not surprised the drugs and weapons allegations against him have been dropped but he’s obviously very relieved.

“The judge took her decision around the same time she called the first of the suspects in for further questioning.

“Their defence lawyers are confident the money laundering charges are not going to prosper either.”

Another well-placed source added: “The suspects weren’t asked a single question about drugs or weapons.

“Most declined to add anything to their original statements.”

More than 20 people including the Kinahans were arrested on the Costa del Sol more than four years ago as part of Operation Shovel.

Christy, arrested at his luxury apartment in a private development near Estepona, spent six months on remand in jail before being bailed.

Armed officers sealed off a residential street after his detention before marching him into court.

Police said at the time the gang he is said to have led owned property worth 500 million euros in Brazil and 160 million euros in Spain.

The suspects had a fleet of expensive cars seized and bank accounts frozen

Russia enacts 'draconian' law for bloggers and online media

A new law imposing restrictions on users of social media has come into effect in Russia. It means bloggers with more than 3,000 daily readers must register with the mass media regulator, Roskomnadzor, and conform to the regulations that govern the country's larger media outlets. Internet companies will also be required to allow Russian authorities access to users' information. One human rights group called the move "draconian". Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote The internet is the last island of free expression in Russia” Hugh Williamson, Human Rights Watch The law was approved by Russia's upper house of parliament in April. It includes measures to ensure that bloggers cannot remain anonymous, and states that social networks must maintain six months of data on its users. The information must be stored on servers based in Russian territory, so that government authorities can gain access.

Joaquín Cortés dances into La Sala Marbella

In the early hours of last Sunday morning, Superstar Spanish dance sensation Joaquín Cortés - the man whose stunning contemporary flamenco dancing and choreography has earned him the accolade of one of the top 10 dancers of all time - headed to La Sala, Puerto Banús to relax and enjoy a little down time with his dancers, musicians and entourage following a performance of his latest stage show, Gitano at the Tennis Club of the 5-star hotel Puente Romano on Marbella’s Golden Mile.

One of the entertainment highlights of the summer, the charismatic Cortés delighted crowds with his innovative flamenco choreography, modern stage sets and a smouldering performance that left women swooning and shouting out his name as his forceful, exhilarating dancing led him to remove his Armani jacket and tie and strip down to his soaked black shirt. Immediately after the event, Joaquín Cortés and his retinue were found enjoying drinks at La Sala Restaurant and Bar in Puerto Banús, the most happening venue in Marbella. The party started straight after the concert and Cortés and friends were royally entertained with live sax, bongos, violin and trumpet, and a spread of delectable La Sala signature dishes and drinks. Despite the rigours of the night’s performance, many of the professionals couldn’t resist dancing sevillanas almost ‘til dawn. Cortés appeared to be in his element throughout, and commented, “La Sala is awesome!”  Many of Cortés’s fans clamoured to the venue to catch a glimpse of the star, following him from his show to La Sala. Other celebrities to be spotted recently at La Sala include footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and girl band Little Mix.  For further details and reservations contact La Sala on Tel: 95 281 4145 info@LaSalaBanus.com

Ebola virus a threat

"The risk to UK travellers and people working in [affected countries] of contracting Ebola is very low but we have alerted UK medical practitioners about the situation in West Africa and requested they remain vigilant for unexplained illness in those who have visited the affected area. "It is important to stress that no cases of imported Ebola have ever been reported in the UK and the risk of a traveller going to West Africa and contracting Ebola remains very low since Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person." BBC global health correspondent Tulip Mazumdar said the West African outbreak had been going on for four months. In that time local people had been looking after the sick and carrying out burials, which could actually help to spread the virus, she added. Ebola kills up to 90% of those infected, but patients have a better chance of survival if they receive early treatment. The outbreak - the world's deadliest to date - was first reported in Guinea in February. It then spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. Ebola virus disease (EVD) Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage Fatality rate can reach 90% Incubation period is two to 21 days There is no vaccine or cure Supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhoea and vomiting can help recovery Fruit bats are considered to be virus' natural host

Massive increase in Brits abroad drug arrests

DRUG arrests of Britons in Spain have soared, with an incredible 68% increase on the previous year. In total, 708 Brits have been arrested overseas on drug charges already this year – a shocking 173 of which were in Spain, according to the UK’s Foreign Office. A worrying trend is the reported rise in the use of a party drug named ‘Cannibal’ – due to its tendency to dramatically increase aggressiveness. It is apparently being distributed widely in parts of Spain, including the Balearics. A British man was arrested in Magaluf, after biting beachgoers while high on the drug. The rapid rise in drug-related arrests is due to a serious crackdown on dealers launched by police this year. The second-largest number of drug arrests involving Britons last year was in America, with 102 cases.

MARBELLA’S last big summer concert is set to be a scorcher.

Tropical king of cool Kid Creole and the Coconuts – three glamorous ladies from Scandinavia – are bringing their exotic flavour to the coast on August 23. Kid is set to shimmy across the stage, dazzling the crowd in his infamous yellow and purple suits, belting out such favourites as Annie, I’m not your daddy, Stool Pigeon and I’m a wonderful thing baby. His vocals – a combination of latino and disco – will raise the roof at Hotel Puente Romano, while the Coconut’s dance routines will up the heat. Tickets cost from 25 euros, with top end SuperVips (inc. pre-show cocktail and after-show party) from 125 euros. Available from Ticketmaster, El Corte Ingles or call 602 644 546.

Forest fire in Casares

FOREST fire raged today near Casares. The fire was very near the site of Manilva’s Roman baths, inland from Sabinillas. Three helicopters and an aircraft were sent by Infoca in response, and emergency services rushed to the scene. A second fire station was reported to have sent emergency response teams as support.

‘Underwater wines’ make a splash in Costa del Sol

DEEP in the Mediterranean you might find vibrant ocean wildlife, beautiful coral, maybe a shipwreck… but a decent Cabernet? A new fad has hit winemaking markets around the world,  and now Spain is included. It’s called underwater aging. A Ronda bodega run by esteemed winemaker Federico Schatz has embraced the radical new process, aging some of its prime vintages in the Mediterranean Sea. The man in charge of the ‘Bodega Submarina’ project is Mr Antonio Martinez, who was generous enough to give the Olive Press the lowdown on his favourite science experiment. He explained that the bottles lie off the coast of Marbella, near the Puerto de la Bajadilla, where they are submersed 20m beneath the surface.

Ricky Martin Living la Vida Loca at Marbella

Last night's concert starred the fabulous Ricky Martin. The Puerto Rican singer had the crowd on their feet with his boundless energy and bouncing Latin tunes. He opened the show with a bang ‘Come with Me ‘ and the promise to get the crowd dancing, sweating and singing. He fulfilled his promise with gusto and his enthusiasm was completely infectious. Where does this man get his energy? The show was intense and Ricky Martin has become big news in Marbella, he would be welcome back anytime.

This samba dancing, hip swiveling 41 year old looks like he will go on forever. His charm and his appreciation of his fans made this show really special and his humility is really genuine. What a superstar! It was impossible not to be swept along in the special atmosphere here tonight, even if you are not a Ricky Martin fan, you cannot help but love every minute of this energetic show. The Marbella Starlite Festival is the perfect setting for Ricky Martin’s Latino style, the warm balmy evening combined with the Latin American tunes made for an amazing night. It is not just the moves that make Ricky stand out from the crowd either, this guy can really sing! Those who did not make it to his concert this time should look out in the Marbella news for more dates, he will surely come back!

The Marbella Starlite Festival is on every night until the 23rd of August. Not only are there legends from the music industry playing every night, there are also art exhibitions, fashion shows, gastronomical treats, an open air cinema and nightclubs after the concert every night. This is the 3rd year that the festival has been held and the acts get bigger every year. How will they top this year’s great shows in 2015? The Starlite festival in Marbella is a huge success again this year with plenty of amazing acts each night. Those who can make it to the festival just once won’t regret it, it will be all they hear in the Costa del Sol news in the coming weeks.

Paris Hilton’s one night in Marbella

famous for her acting career in sex tape ‘One Night in Paris’, now Paris Hilton is spending a night in Marbella. The American heiress is set to play a DJ set at nightclub Olivia Valere on August 18. A distinctly brief encounter, the diva will be touching down with her Spanish model boyfriend River Viiperi for the show before departing in their private jet to Ibiza and Barcelona. The American hotel heiress is most famous for appearances in reality show ‘The Simple Life,’ as well as the 2004 sex tape.

Lionel Messi may have just been named the most valuable player at the World Cup in Brazil but that is unlikely to soften the blow of having to pay Spain's largest tax bill

Lionel Messi may have just been named the most valuable player at the World Cup in Brazil but that is unlikely to soften the blow of having to pay Spain's largest tax bill — a whopping €53 million ($71 million)On top of that €53 million, the FC Barcelona star could also have to pay an extra €3 million on undeclared advertising and sponsorship earnings for the years 2007 to 2009.

 The huge sum paid by Lionel Messi this year covers taxes on his salary, as well as on his assets and advertising deals. It also includes €22.4 million in outstanding tax for 2010, 2011 and 2012. 

 Over the past seven years, the Argentina captain has paid more than €100 million to Spain's tax office, Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia reported. 

 This amount has increased proportionally to the player’s income.  

 According to the business magazine Forbes, Lionel Messi earns more than €48 million a year from salary and sponsorship, making him the fourth highest-earning athlete in the world. 

 He’s also the highest-paid football player with a €20 million annual salary, ahead of Real Madrid’s player Cristiano Ronaldo.

 Last year, Lionel Messi and his father were accused of defrauding the Spanish tax office of over €5 million ($7 million) but cleared the tax debt before a court appearance.‏

Cilla Black's Spanish villa engulfed by fire at 3am

Cilla Black’s Spanish villa has been damaged by a fire. The TV host , 71, was in the UK when the house, in Estepona, Costa del Sol, was engulfed earlier this month. She said: “All the hedges have gone at the front of the house. A Good Samaritan - a neighbour opposite - saw these flames at three o’clock in the morning. “I have management over there and a gardener, but I could’ve been in the house when it happened. “It frightens me.” She said she usually flies to the luxury property in August but is having to go earlier to oversee repairs. Cilla, whose husband Bobby died in 1999, admitted she was nervous about staying there on her own. But she added: “I’ve got to go to Spain, it’s got to be done, to get over being frightened, the longer I leave it , the worse it’s going to be. “What frightens me most is being on my own - I don’t stay there on my own. "I usually don’t go there until August but I’m going early this time.” The star also has homes in London, Buckinghamshire and Barbados.

Gas reps detained for defrauding the elderly

THE Guardia Civil have arrested two representatives of a ‘gas company’ who were thieving in people’s houses when they went to make their inspections. The victims, always elderly, would get a phone call a few days before the inspection; during the phone call the representatives would always inquire as to the age of the people in the house. The victims would be informed that two representatives would visit the house to make sure that everything conformed to standards and was safe.

They would charge €356 for this service and, when the victims would go in search of the cash, the reps would follow them to find where they hid their money and then go back later, while their colleague distracted the elderly person, and steal whatever cash they could find. Investigations began when a complaint was made to the Guardia Civil, by an 84-year-old man, who claimed that after a gas inspection he was left €3,000 short - this was money he had been saving in order to buy a hearing aid. Police rapidly identified and arrested the two individuals who made the visits as well as the woman who would make the preliminary phone calls and the appointments. Investigations into the matter are ongoing as the police suspect that there are a lot of victims who have not yet spoken up about the matter. All three are out on bail until their case goes to court.

British family recount moment forest fire forced them to flee Spanish hotel in Costa del Sol

'It was like Pompeii': British family recount moment they were forced to evacuate Spanish holiday apartment as raging forest fire sent hot ash raining down on them Family arrived at resort and were unpacking when they were forced to flee Clarks were alerted when Spanish porter looked up at hillside and swore Hot ash rained down and smoke obliterated the sun Eight-year-old Isla screamed that the family was going to die

THE Costa del Sol hospital has announced that it will be closing three operating rooms in the afternoons in July and four in August.

THE Costa del Sol hospital has announced that it will be closing three operating rooms in the afternoons in July and four in August.   Ana Corredera, spokesperson for the PP health department, commented that the works being done to expand the hospital have also been blocked for more than two years.   Corredera went on to underscore the fact that there would be no reduction in the number of beds available during the summer but that, due to the reduced budget this year, the summer reinforcements, brought in to cover the four-fold increase of the population, would be “minimal.” The PP spokesperson added that, in her party’s opinion, the delays in the expansion were due to bad local government by the PSOE.

MARBELLA taxi drivers have warned the council about the rising growth of the pirate taxi industry and are threatening a strike if something is not done about it.

MARBELLA taxi drivers have warned the council about the rising growth of the pirate taxi industry and are threatening a strike if something is not done about it. More than 150 cars stopped outside the fairgrounds for two hours to protest the situation about the amount of unauthorised vehicles which abound every summer in the town. “There are around 40 private individuals and companies endangering the livelihoods of the 316 legal taxi drivers in Marbella,” commented one driver at the two-hour protest. David Piquer, spokesperson for the taxi association of Marbella commented that this situation repeated itself every summer and the association was now asking for a sit down with the mayor in order to discuss the situation and find a remedy that would work for everybody. “We just want to be listened to and have our petitions taken into account by the council,” added Piquer. The petition, which summarises the association’s concerns along with the licence number plates of the rogue cars and photographs of their drivers, has been handed in to the council. One of the main bones of contention between the taxi association and the council is the Puerto Banus area which, according to one demonstrator, the police know about but have not taken any action on.

Marbella Rehab Dorian and Meena Lavender, who have been running Marbella Rehab centre since 2008, were accused by fellow expat Sharon Knight of stealing her home and business.

A BRITISH couple living in Marbella who were set to be evicted this week have been told by a court that they can stay in the property at least for the time being. Dorian and Meena Lavender, who have been running Marbella Rehab centre since 2008, were accused by fellow expat Sharon Knight of stealing her home and business. In a four-year legal wrangle, a Marbella court had previously ruled in Knight’s favour, ordering their eviction on July 15, and adding that the couple must pay €368,000 in damages to Knight. But the Lavenders have now successfully appealed this decision at a higher court in Malaga. The Lavenders’ lawyer, Alejandro Ponce confirmed today that the couple will not be leaving the property next week, as previously ordered. “There is no winner or loser at the moment, because it is a matter to be decided by the Malaga court,” he added. Knight took the Lavenders to court after she claimed they had failed to complete payment on the house or her business Marbella Rehab. The Lavenders moved into the property in December 2008, Knight claims that they agreed to pay €8,000 a month for the first year, with the final balance to be paid at the end of 2009. However she claims that when the time came for the lump sum to be paid, the Lavenders said they would not, having suffered the effects of the recession. The case is continuing.

Donegal teenager dies after fall on Costa del Sol

A teenager from Co Donegal died yesterday after falling from a wall in Spain. Ryan O’Shea (19) was on holiday with his parents near Torremolinos on the Costa del Sol, where the family own a holiday home. Mr O’Shea, a student at Sligo Institute of Technology, is understood to have fallen from a wall while on a night out. His family is well known in the Killybegs area of Co Donegal, where they run a fishing company. Killybegs-based TD Thomas Pringle said yesterday: “The town is stunned. It was an appalling tragedy for a family on holiday. “Everybody’s thoughts are with the family.” Mr O’Shea’s parents Sean and Joanne were joined by members of their family in Spain as preparations were being made to fly their son’s body home.

Thursday, saw the grand opening of a fabulous new restaurant and bar, Boardwalk, beautifully located on the Marbella sea front.

Thursday, saw the grand opening of a fabulous new restaurant and bar, Boardwalk, beautifully located on the Marbella sea front. The owner- director team made up of Howard, Charley, Penny, Nick and Kara, pulled out all the stops for the launch party, and gave everyone a night to remember. Not only is Boardwalk a brilliant location to see and be seen, in a unique twist, from the opening night onwards a cent from every single euro spent by patrons will go to local breast cancer charities, including Positively Pink run by Lorraine Palmer of El Oceano, so you can enjoy yourselves, and make a difference at the same time! The restaurant, in keeping with the charity theme, was decorated with pink and white tulle and balloons and guests were asked to wear white and pink outfits. Those who attended were treated to a delicious array of canapés which included both sweet and savoury treats, handed out by some of the most welcoming staff on the Costa. The wine and champagne flowed; entertainment was made up of a table magician and stilt walkers dressed entirely in white, which made sure that the launch party was a huge success.