Athlone singer with Marbella links gives reaction to nightclub shooting

A well-known Athlone man with a property in Marbella has given his reaction to this week's nightclub shooting in the Spanish city which has left an Irish man in intensive care in hospital.

Singer Desi Egan told the Westmeath Independent he was in Marbella when the incident happened during the early hours of Monday morning, but he subsequently returned home to Ireland last night.

Five people were injured during a shooting and stabbing at a beach club in the southern Spanish city, including a 32-year-old Irish man reported to have been an innocent bystander who was shot after a fight broke out between two groups in a VIP area of the club.

Desi said two of his friends had been in the club at the time of the shooting.

"Two friends of mine were at the club when it happened, and they sent me on a video of it. I looked at it and couldn't believe what was going on in the place," he said this afternoon (Tuesday).

"It was absolutely crazy that people could be shot when they're on a night out, having a drink and a bit of fun.

"It's very sad. It's the last thing that the area needs because people there are just trying to get back on their feet again, after being on their knees for the last two years."

Desi said his home in the Marbella area is about 10 minutes from the nightclub where the incident took place.

He said he wouldn't like to see Marbella's reputation being tarnished as a result of the nightclub attack, which has made headlines internationally.

"It's not sort of an area at all. Obviously there was a wrong element involved in it on the night," he said.

Desi has been dividing his time between Ireland and Marbella for the last 15 years, and is also involved in running tours there with a travel company in Dublin.