Spanish may face probe into Irish tourist's death

Spanish authorities may be called before an Oireachtas Committee over the suspicious death of an Irish holidaymaker in Gran Canaria…

Spanish authorities may be called before an Oireachtas Committee over the suspicious death of an Irish holidaymaker in Gran Canaria in 2003, it emerged today.

The mother of Daniel O'Callaghan, 24, has also called for a review of policing in the Playa del Ingles resort popular with Irish people.

The Dublin shop manager was attacked while on holiday with three friends in Playa del Ingles and died in hospital two weeks later.

Speaking on the second anniversary of the attack, Dr Maeve Pomeroy said her family had been requesting a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern for three months on the issue.

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She added: "We would ask for a review of policing in the Playa del Ingles and Mas Palomas area because it has very serious safety implications for other young tourists."

"Three weeks ago a young Norwegian man was stabbed in the same area and died and an 19-year-old Irish man had money extorted from him in a club that Daniel had been on the night he died."

A recent coroner's inquest in Dublin reached a verdict of death by unlawful killing even though a Spanish pathologist said the cause of death was due to "an accidental fall".

European Affairs Committee chairman John Deasy said the committee was concerned that Spanish police never quizzed independent witnesses or sealed off the scene for forensic evidence.

He said Daniel's clothes were never examined and it took a Garda Siochana investigation to point out discrepancies in the Spanish investigation. He recommended that the Spanish ambassador and Spanish Justice Minister be called before the committee.

Several Irish MEPs met with a Spanish Government representative today and they received an undertaking that there would be a full investigation into Daniel's death.

PA