POLICE hunting Shane O’Brien over the October 2015 murder of a man in London are following up on 15 potential sightings of the suspect.
O’Brien, 30, fled the country on a private plane after 21-year-old Josh Hanson died in an unprovoked attacked at RE Bar in Eastcote, West London.
Last month O’Brien – from Ladbroke Grove but with links to Ireland – was placed on Interpol’s worldwide Most Wanted list.
Since then, there have been 15 potential sightings reported to police or the National Crime Agency, who are working abroad to track down O’Brien.
Four of these have been investigated and eliminated from enquiries but work continues on the rest.
In particular efforts are being focused on Marbella in Spain, Bangkok in Thailand and Dubai.
Appeal
Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “We are really pleased with the response to our appeals since O’Brien was placed on Interpol’s list and would urge people to keep their eyes open wherever they are in the world.”
O’Brien was arrested in Prague in February 2017 for criminal damage and assault.
He used the Italian alias Enzo Mellonceli, supported by false documentation, and was bailed pending further enquiries before fleeing.
An image taken of him in Czech custody showed he had drastically changed his appearance.
Shane O'Brien had changed his appearance when arrested last year“Based on what we know about O’Brien’s lifestyle and interests, we are looking to people in nightclubs and boxing gyms as well as ex-pats and any women he may have become involved with to come forward,” said DCI McHugh.
"After more than two-and-a-half years, some may feel that we will never catch O’Brien,” he added.
Liability
“But with the work that has and continues to be done, I believe we are making it more and more difficult for those supporting and helping O’Brien to remain hidden and there will come a point where they will see him as a liability and they will make that anonymous call.”
A £50,000 reward remains on offer for information leading to O’Brien’s arrest and prosecution.
Anyone with information about O’Brien or his whereabouts can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org, the police incident room on 020 8785 8099 or the National Crime Agency’s public line on 0370 496 7622, which is staffed 24 hours a day.
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