Craig Mallon's father calls for governments to work together 'to bring family justice'

Craig Mallon, 26, died from a single lethal punch outside Rockefellers Bar in Spain’s Lloret de Mar in May 2012 after a group of men, believed to be French, attacked him and his brother's stag party.

Eyewitnesses gave detailed testimony of the brutal attack, but it is believed the group fled the country the next day - and the case has never been solved.

Craig’s dad Ian has today hit out at the lack of progress regarding lines of inquiry requested by his family and the lack of communication from the foreign and UK authorities.

Ian and Craig Mallon (Image: Newsquest)

He told the Glasgow Times: “Unfortunately we know from experience that if someone is killed abroad then there’s no real help for families.

“It’s utterly shocking that the Spanish and UK authorities don’t work together to solve the murder of a British citizen - and that’s exactly what has happened with Craig’s case.

"My son was killed 10 years ago, and no one has been brought to justice.

“It’s important families lobby for change and I want to see politicians and governments working in unison to make this happen before another family suffers in the same way we have.”

The Glasgow Times previously told how the trauma of losing his son has taken a devastating toll on Ian’s health.

He has suffered two heart attacks, a stroke, and has had to undergo spinal surgery that left him in a wheelchair for 20 months.

Ian, from Coatbridge, was recently reunited with the parents of Kirsty Maxwell - who also lost her life abroad under mysterious circumstances - at CrimeCon in Glasgow.

The event at the Hilton last week shared information on some of Scotland’s most prolific criminal cases, as well as helping to provide a platform for victims and families seeking justice.

Kirsty, 27, died after she left her room at the Apartamentos Payma complex and then plunging to her death, leaving her parents Brian and Denise Curry distraught.

Ian said: “I met up with Kirsty’s parents and we spent the day together.

“We both know what it is like to be desperate for answers. It's been a long anxious wait and the Spanish authorities don’t have much appetite to help with Craig or Kirsty’s cases.

"I can relate to what they are going through and know only too well what it’s like to be left in limbo.”

Ian’s wife Antoinette passed away in 2018 after a battle with lung cancer. He says the 46-year-old 'gave up' after Craig's death and went to her grave broken by not seeing justice served.

A specialist inquiry team, led by retired Strathclyde Police detective David Swindle, claims to have discovered the identities of those who are believed to have murdered Craig.

The former cop has been helping the family for several years and went on to set up Victims Abroad.

The case was the first he became involved in where a British citizen lost their life overseas and it has led to him being called to assist police probes into similar tragedies.

Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Swindle, who helped snare serial killer Peter Tobin, says the UK and Scottish governments must develop better support and collaboration processes with countries where British citizens have lost their lives to suspected foul play.

He previously told the Glasgow Times: “Craig was murdered, and we know the names of those responsible, but the wheels of justice turn incredibly slowly in Spain.

“We need the French and Spanish authorities to work with us to secure convictions.

“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.

"Despite being 10 years ago, this woman will still recollect seeing such a violent incident but may not have realised the fatal consequences."