DRUG SMUGGLER’S DEATH ‘ON VIDEO’
Police believe 53-year-old’s brutal killing was recorded
BY JOHN HAND
POLICE probing the murder of a former Irish drug trafficker believe the incident which claimed his life is was recorded in full.
Sligo native Michael Mcdonagh, 53, died following an altercation in Camber Sands, Sussex in South East England just after midnight on August 6.
Although police made seven arrests over his killing, all of the suspects were released on conditional bail.
Yesterday, Sussex Police issued a fresh appeal for information over his death. And it is their belief that a man recorded the whole incident.
A spokesperson said: “All of the arrested individuals have been released under investigation while enquiries continue.
“An appeal for witnesses was launched, but detectives are particularly keen to speak to people who may have recorded the incident on mobile devices.
“At least one man, described as short and thin by witnesses, is believed to have recorded the incident from start to finish. We would encourage this person to come forward or if anybody knows who this person is to make contact with the investigation team.
“Anybody with footage, images or information that could help with the investigation is asked to contact police online or via 101, quoting Operation Molton.”
Mcdonagh’s wider family and friends held a mass for him earlier this month in Sligo, as well as vigils there and in the UK.
And his daughters have previously appealed for information so they can get “justice”.
Although Mcdonagh was once a drug trafficker, it is not believed he was still involved at the time of his death.
He left Ireland for the UK when the Criminal Assets Bureau seized his plush home near Ballintogher, Sligo, after proving it was bought from the proceeds of crime in the early 2000s.
His gang was behind a massive haul of drugs which was seized by cops in the UK in 2008.
After a period on the run, the former boxer was arrested in Amsterdam in November 2010 and extradited back to the UK on foot of an international warrant for his arrest.
Mcdonagh was jailed for seven years for drug trafficking while 23 others of his gang were also caged over the seizure.
One man is thought to have recorded it from start to finish POLICE SPOKESPERSON SUSSEX YESTERDAY