Dad of Scot murdered on Spanish stag do issues plea to catch killer in 12-year hunt

Craig Mallon was killed by a single punch.
Craig Mallon was killed by a single punch. -Credit:Supplied


The dad of a man murdered on a stag do in Spain has made a plea for witnesses to come forward on the 12th anniversary of his son's tragic death.

Craig Mallon, 26, died from a lethal punch outside Rockefellers Bar in the Lloret de Mar holiday resort on the Costa Brava, at around 6:20am, Saturday May 19, 2012 after a group of men attacked him at his brother's stag party.

Eyewitnesses provided testimony of the vicious attack but it is believed the group of men, understood to be French, fled Spain the following day and the case has never been solved.

Costa Brava murder victim Craig Mallon pictured with his mum Antoinette and dad Ian.
Costa Brava murder victim Craig Mallon pictured with his mum Antoinette and dad Ian. -Credit:Supplied

Dad Ian says he has been tormented that his son's killer has lived a normal life for the last 12 as he appealed for key witnesses to come forward.

Ian, from Coatbridge, said: "Our family's grief is aggravated by the fact that people out there have information about what happened.

"People have information that they might not think is relevant and there are people who know who killed Craig.

"My son's killer is still out there living a normal life after 12 years. They may now have a family of their own.

Ian Mallon made a fresh appeal for information 12 years on from his son's death.
Ian Mallon made a fresh appeal for information 12 years on from his son's death. -Credit:Facebook

"Please reflect on your own conscience. If you or someone you know has vital information please come forward so we can get answers and our family justice."

A specialist inquiry team, led by retired Strathclyde Police detective David Swindle, discovered the identities of those who are believed to have murdered Craig. He has been helping the family for several years and went on to set up Victims Abroad.

The team believe that they know the identities of the killers, and that they fled Spain the day after attacking Craig, but need more information that could lead to convictions.

David Swindle said: "This has been incredibly frustrating for Craig's family and friends, who deserve to see those responsible held accountable. We know an English-speaking woman telephoned the Spanish emergency services the morning after and spoke about a tall man and others involved in a fight.

"The description of the distinctly tall man features in other witness statements. The woman's information is vital."

Craig had been living in Australia but had flown back to Scotland and spent a few hours with his parents before jetting off to Lloret De Mar with the stag party.

However, only seven hours after landing in the holiday resort, at around 6:20am, Craig was attacked outside the nightclub.

Ian previously revealed he had suffered two heart attacks, a stroke and had to undergo spinal surgery. He says the trauma from not having any closure is killing him.

His wife Antoinette passed away in 2018 having never seen justice for her son.

At the time he said: "She gave up her fight with cancer the day that we lost our son. Having to identify his body was horrendous. It left us both devastated and it's something you never truly get past.

"I nursed Antoinette for months and we were both determined to see the people responsible for his death caught. Knowing my wife passed away without any answers is still devastating to me. It has left me broken."

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