Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Family hit by second tragedy
Murder victim’s mum dies
A hear t b roken mother who fought a campaign for justice after her son was murdered in Spain has died.
The Coatbridge family of Craig Mallon were left devastated after his mum Antoinette died on Friday, aged just 48, following a short illness.
Craig, 26, died after being struck by a single punch outside a bar in Lloret de Mar in 2012 while on his brother’s stag party.
The quantity surveyor’s family have been frustrated by a lack of progress in the police investigation. No arrests have been made in connection with Craig’s death.
Antoinette and Craig’s dad Ian, 52, travelled to Spain and made a number of appeals in their search for answers to their son’s death.
Mrs Mallon’s death was announced by retired detective Peter Swindle, who is helping the family to investigate Craig’s case.
He said: “It is so sad that Craig’s mum Antoinette Mallon has passed away.
“Surrounded by her loving husband Ian, her sisters and family, Antoinette passed away on Friday, April 6, after a short illness.
“Born on April 9, 1969, Antoinette would have been 49 on Monday.
“Ian Mallon and the family, who are grateful to the media for the amazing support they have received and continue to receive regarding Craig’s unresolved murder, request that their privacy is respected in the forthcoming difficult days ahead.
“On behalf of Antoinette’s family, thanks to everyone for your understanding and empathy.”
Tributes were paid to Mrs Malllon on social media following the announcement.
Sienna Louise wrote: “Heartbroken for you all, an amazing lady who wanted justice for the murder of her son.
“RIP I hope you’re both together and at peace now.”
Ryan Lavelle posted: “So sad. Rest in peace Antoinette. Reunited with Craig.”
Craig ’ s employer, building company Laing O’Rourke, hired former detective superintendent Mr Swindle – who led the probe to bring Peter Tobin to justice – to investigate the case.
Last year he uncovered CCTV footage of four Frenchmen entering the local police station around 6.40am, a little more than 30 minutes after the killing. He believes they are vital to the inquiry.
Images and video footage were posted on the Craig Mallon Appeal page on Facebook, with French and Spanish translations in an attempt to gather information.
At the time Mr Swindle said: “These are the four French people who hold the key to what happened to Craig Mallon. They were at the scene when the incident happened. They had their car towed away from a street behind the place where Craig was killed: four French males, walking through that scene when the incident was started.
“It’s important that we trace these people. I’m sure social media will drive this and we’ll eventually get there.”
Mr Swindle has criticised the Spanish police probe.
Police investigating the killing claim there is not a clear clue to solving the mystery. They say they cannot reveal the details of an open inquiry.
Craig, who had been working in Australia, had been in Lloret de Mar for just seven hours when he was assaulted in the street near Rockefellers nightclub in an unprovoked attack.