Handcuffed Ulsterman found dead in boot of car

The handcuffed and decomposing body of a businessman from Northern Ireland, who had been gagged and shot in the head, has been discovered in the boot of his car at Malaga airport, in Spain.

The handcuffed and decomposing body of a businessman from Northern Ireland, who had been gagged and shot in the head, has been discovered in the boot of his car at Malaga airport, in Spain.

Police on the Costa del Sol made the find after security guards were led to the Range Rover by the stench from the boot. They believe the shooting may have been part of a war between rival drugs gangs.

Officers, who named the man as Michael McGuinness, 36, said he had been seized on Tuesday from his home in Mijas on the Costa del Sol by two men. Their information came from a prostitute who had been with Mr McGuinness at the time.

Mr McGuinness was described by police as a businessman who was "known to them". They said the motive for the killing could have been a settling of accounts connected with the criminal underworld and drug smuggling, since Mr McGuinness had been investigated for suspected drug trafficking.

They said the prostitute told them that two gunmen had snatched him and driven him away in his own car. They said the woman was reluctant to provide further details because of her profession.

An autopsywas conducted yesterday but the magistrate has imposed a secrecy order on the investigation.

Police and Civil Guard activity has also been stepped up around Malaga after a wave of terrorist attacks attributed to the Basque separatist organisation Eta.

At least four other murders so far this year are believed to have been associated with the drug-running and money-laundering mafia around Marbella, according to Spanish police. They include the deaths of two Arabs who were found shot in their car.