Very sad news.
An Irishman, who died after being stabbed in the early hours of Friday morning while on holiday with his family on the Costa del Sol, has been named as 53-year-old John Pender.
Pender was in Pógs Irish bar in Fuengirola when he was attacked.
He worked with the the Suicide or Survive charity, which is based in the Shankill area of Dublin and was founded by his wife Caroline.
In a statement on Friday evening, the board of the charity said it deeply regretted the loss of their “beautiful friend and colleague”.
It said the “loss of his huge presence leaves an immense void in our lives.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs told JOE that it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.
A British man, who is understood have been living in Spain, was arrested at the scene.
A spokesman for Spain’s National Police said on Friday: “National Police officers have arrested a 49-year-old British man in Malaga in the early hours of this morning over his suspected involvement in the death of an Irishman aged 53 at a pub in the town.
“The incident occurred around 1.50am in the toilets of the Irish pub. Police have established from inquiries that the victim and attacker didn’t know each other. The arrested man, who allegedly had two broken bottles in each hand, is suspected of inflicting several wounds on his victim, including some to the neck.
“He tried to flee the scene afterwards but was stopped from doing so by security staff and subsequently arrested by police in the area. Medical responders could do nothing to save the victim, who died at the scene. The British man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently being held at Fuengirola police station.”
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