Irish man stabbed to death in bar in Costa del Sol

An Irish man on holiday in Spain with his wife and children has been stabbed to death in a bar on the Costa del Sol.

Local reports said the man was attacked with a broken bottle by another man in Pógs Irish bar in Fuengirola in the early hours of Friday morning.

The victim has been named as John Pender (53), from Shankill in Co Dublin.

He was in the bar with his wife Caroline McGuigan, founder of the Suicide Or Survive charity, and a group of friends.

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A 49-year-old man, reported to be British, was arrested.

Police said the victim received cuts to his neck and other parts of his body with a broken beer bottle.

In a statement on its Facebook page, the bar said it was closed following the incident.

“Due to an unfortunate incident in the early hours of this morning, Pógs will be closed today.

“Until the facts are clear, we ask for maximum prudence when issuing comments or opinions, out of respect for the family of the victims and the local itself. Our deepest condolences to family and friends,” read the statement.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has said it is aware of the incident and is providing consular assistance.

A spokesman for Spain’s national police said: “National police officers have arrested a 49-year-old British man in Malaga in the early hours of this morning over his suspected involvement in the death of an Irishman aged 53 at a pub in the town.”

Local Labour Party councillor and neighbour Denis O’Callaghan paid tribute to Mr Pender and said his death was “beyond comprehension.”

“I live close by to John and his wife in Shankill so the community and I are in total shock,” he said.

“What started out as a happy event for the Pender family sadly turned to tragedy. The circumstances of his death are surreal and tragic. I want to offer my deepest sympathy to his wife Caroline and his family,” he said.