IRISH GANGLAND FIGURE GUNNED DOWN IN HAIL OF BULLETS IN ELVIRIA

An Irish gangland figure was shot and killed by two gunmen who attacked him at a well known Irish bar in Elviria last Saturday. Gerard Kavanagh, whose nickname was Hatchet, was a 44 year old convicted drug dealer who was well known to Irish police. He was drinking outside Harmons Irish Bar in Elviria just before five o' clocl on Saturday when two gunmen dressed in black and wearing black balaclavas opened fire with pistols. Kavanagh was hit nine times before one of the killers fired a final shot to his head. The gunmen escaped in a BMW car which was found burned out five kilometres away. Irish police have been liasising with Spanish police in a bid to discover who was behind the gangland murder. One theory is that Kavanagh, who was a close associate of a well known Irish drugs lord who lives outside Estepona, was in dispute with a Russian mafia gang over drugs money.Four men have been killed this year in suspected gangland linked shootings on the Costa del Sol.

CASARES CELEBRATES THE MEDIEVAL MARKET THIS WEEKEND

The thirteenth Medieval Market will be held in Casares this weekend. The event has become a major tourist attraction on the Costa del Sol with many visitors from all over coming to the town. The market is set in the idyllic setting of the town, with the streets specially decorated for the occasion. There are activities for all ages line dup for the weekend, including a circus, theatre, live music, juggling, belly dancing and artisan stalls. This year the market's programme has been expanded to attract the younger people, with puppetry, theatre and music workshops for children. Apart from the market the Espileta sound festival will take place tomorrow with performances by the ten finalists. The Sierra Crestellina cheesemakers are also holding a workshop. Sonia Saborido invites everyone to come and enjoy this year's Medieval Market.

CASARES TOWN HALL DONATES 50,000 EURO FOR PROJECTS IN THE WEST BANK AND BOLIVIA

The Town Hall has donated 50,000 Euro to a number of projects this year, including a health project on the West Bank and one to help women in Bolivia. The Blas Infante awards are named after the father of Andalucia who was a native of Casares. This year the money is being spent on a number of projects. The biggest award, 26,000 Euro was given to a project to provide health services for pregnant women, newborn babies and children under five in the town of Beit Sahour on the West Bank. Another award was given to improve education, health and food for a special education centre in Nicaragua, and another award was donated to  a boarding school for the training of women farmers in Bolivia. Mayor Antonia Morera referred to the economic crisis and the crisis of values when she announced the awards. She said the council is working hard to support people everywhere.

And now some news in brief:

The Incosol Hotel in Marbella, formerly a flagship hotel on the Costa del Sol, has finally closed leaving 138 workers on the dole. The famous hotel was open for 39 years but closed in April last year and now the courts have issued final termination contracts for the workers.

ITALIAN MAFIA BOSSES ARRESTED AFTER SPREE WITH PROSTITUTES IN MARBELLA

A number of Italian mafia bosses have been arrested after a night out with prostitutes in San Pedro near Marbella. Leaders of the clan Polverino of the Naples camorra were detained by the Guardia Civil after a raid at a flat in the town. In a follow up operation almost one hundred people were detained after police dismantled four cells in Tarragon, Malaga, Cadiz and Alicante. The joint operation was carried out by police in Spain and Italy. The mafia group was believed to have been involved in drug trafficking and money laundering in Spain.