Did Costa gangsters harm Irish mum who vanished?
Nephew threatened after investigating
THE family of an Irish mum-of-three who went missing 28 years ago believe she may have been harmed by a Costa del Sol crime gang.
Bernadette Cooper, who had been trying to secure loans to save her struggling bar in Spain, was last seen in January 1993, aged 48.
Her family tried searching for her but following anonymous tip-offs and possible sightings they came to the conclusion she was leading a new life after her marriage broke down.
But her nephew Leon is now looking into her disappearance and Scotland Yard is investigating after she was formally reported missing last year.
Leon believes Bernadette, originally from Co Monaghan, may have fallen foul of an organised crime gang in the Costa del Sol.
His age and address are not being revealed as he has received threats since beginning his search. He said: “There is a very strong possibility, although it is only one theory, that people and situations she encountered while living and working in Spain may have had a direct bearing on what happened to her.
“We need keys to unlock that theory and it is one of several theories being pursued by British and European police.”
Bernadette and her husband Brian moved to the Costa del Sol in the late 80s to run the popular Molly Malone’s bar, in Benalmadena, near Malaga.
She told family members they had been “gassed and robbed” at their Spanish apartment, and that the bar was smashed up on another occasion.
Brian returned to England in 1991, seeking a divorce, and Bernadette temporarily closed the bar and moved to England after falling behind on the rent and spiralling into debt.
She approached relatives for a £10,000 loan but no one was able to help her.
Bernadette was last seen at The Horse & Groom pub in Tooting, South West London, where she made a call to Spain saying: “I am on my way back with the money.” She has not been seen since and her passport and bank cards have not been used.
A year later, one of her sisters flew to Spain to check up on her after she failed to respond to birthday and Christmas cards. She found the bar under new management with no sign of Bernadette.
The family contacted missing persons charities and the Salvation Army, and hired private investigators but to no avail.
In March last year, Leon began to look into his aunt’s disappearance after promising his dying dad he would find out what had happened to her. He said: “Our investigation has proved there is no possible movement, there is no bank account movement – those are very bad signs. It’s absolutely inconceivable that she would not have contacted her children, family, brothers and sisters. Some of my aunts and uncles hold out hope but I think in their heart of hearts they know something terrible has happened.
“Spain is where I’m getting the most resistance to my questions.
“People are very scared. If her disappearance was at the hands of others then our cause will become one of justice – to find out the truth and bring anyone involved to justice.” Scotland Yard confirmed the missing persons inquiry, which is being aided by Locate International.
I’m getting resistance to questions in Spain.. people are very scared LEON NEPHEW OF MISSING BAR OWNER BERNADETTE