BRITISH PRISON ESCAPER AND DRUGS DEALER ARRESTED AT GYM IN ESTEPONA

A 29 year old man from Liverpool who escaped from a British prison last year has been arrested as he entered a gym in Estepona. Gerard Hagan had been living openly near Estepona since his escape from a Lancashire prison. He was serving a 10 years sentence for his part in an attempt by a gang of Briitish criminals to smuggle 440 million Euro worth of cocaine destined for the British market from a boat off the Irish coast in 2007. It was largest seizure of illegal drugs in Ireland. The gang was intercepted and the drugs seized after their boat capsized and police were called off the coast of Co Cork. Hagan and three other men were put on trial in Ireland and jailed for sentences ranging from 10 to 30 years for the botched enterprise. Hagan is now in custody at a prison outside Madrid pending extradition proceedings seeking his return to the UK. Hagan  was reportedly paid 6,200 Euro after he agreed to co-operate with the authorities in the run up to the trial. 

MOVES UNDERWAY TO GET 15 PER CENT DROP IN IBI IN CASARES

The first steps have been taken to reduce the IBI property tax in Casares by 15 per cent. The first meeting was held this week of a committee which will involve the governing team and the opposition to implement a tax reduction without affecting municipal services. Casares Town Hall has requested the Ministry of Finance in Malaga to reduce the cadastral values in line with the realities of the property market. The new committee is hoping that the tax reduction will help hard pressed property owners.

CASARES PREPARES TO CELEBRATE ALL SAINTS DAY TOMORROW

Casares is preparing to celebrate All Saints Day tomorrow with the traditional roasting of chestnuts near the cemetery from tomorrow evening until Saturday, the Day of the Dead. As is the tradition many people are expected to visit the graves of their loved ones from dusk tomorrow until dawn on Saturday. Locals will share roast chestnuts and glass of brandy to keep warm while they chat and visit the cemetery in a long standing traditional custom.

SIX MORE UNEMPLOYED RECRUITED BY THE TOWN HALL FOR PUBLIC WORKS

Six more unemployed people have been hired by the Town Hall in Casares to carry out public works. Two will take part in cleaning services while a bricklayer will work in a housing rehabilitation programme. The initial contract is for three months which can be extended by another three months. Casares Mayor Antonia Morera said the latest hirings are part of the governing team’s priority to help create jobs and reduce unemployment.

International news:

A major clean up operation is underway across western Europe this week after a powerful storm, named St Jude, passed through the UK and France before hitting Holland, Denmark and Germany. At least 13 people were killed in the storm which also caused major damage and transport disruption.