— Victim, also Irish, suffered a deep neck wound inflicted with a box cutter and required emergency surgery
— The suspect has a criminal record in Ireland, including convictions for homicide and drug trafficking
Orihuela Costa, July 10, 2025 — Spanish Civil Guard officers have arrested a 58-year-old Irish man on suspicion of attempted murder after he allegedly slashed another Irish citizen, identified as Dan McMeekin aged 29, in the neck with a box cutter. McMeekin required emergency surgery at Torrevieja University Hospital to save his life.
The incident took place in the early hours of June 15 near a small shopping center in La Zenia. According to investigators, the attack occurred following an argument between the two men. The victim was reportedly urinating near an electrical transformer on a closed-off street when the assailant approached him from behind and inflicted a deep cut to his neck using a box cutter.
The investigation, named Operation Combination, was led by the Civil Guard’s Judicial Police Unit in Alicante, specifically the team based in Pilar de la Horadada. Local police from Orihuela Costa and forensic experts from Guardamar del Segura also supported the inquiry. Detectives carefully analyzed evidence collected from the scene, allowing them to reconstruct the events and link the suspect to the area at the time of the assault.
Through witness statements, evidence review, and an interview with the now-recovered victim, officers were able to fully identify the suspect. Although he had fled his residence shortly after the attack, his identity was eventually circulated among law enforcement. On June 30, local police in Orihuela Costa located the suspect in a town park. His identity was confirmed with help from the Pilar de la Horadada police unit, and he was taken into custody.
As the man was undocumented, cooperation with Irish authorities proved crucial. A fingerprint match confirmed not only his identity but also his extensive criminal history in Ireland, including convictions for firearms-related homicides and drug trafficking.
Police also revealed McMeekin has a criminal record and it’s well known he has a series of convictions for domestic abuse against a former partner.
The suspect has been charged with attempted murder and was brought before Orihuela’s Investigating Court No. 3. The judge ordered his provisional release under a restraining order preventing contact with the victim.
